Addressing a press conference, at ICCBS, Karachi University on the occasion of the beginning of the construction work of the Latif Ebrahim Jamal Research Institute of Nanotechnology here on Monday, he said the subject of higher education be better left with the federation.
Regretting low spending on higher education, he said that a very small fiscal budget is being spent in the higher education sector of the country, despite the progress in higher education is linked with the development of any country. Contrary to Pakistan, India has allocated 900 billion Indian rupees for higher education sector in its next five years plan.
He said the generous support of Aziz Latif Jamal, which is Rs50 million, for the setup of Latif Ebrahim Jamal Research Institute of Nanotechnology in International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), Karachi University (KU) is a positive sign.
The press conference was also addressed by the Advisor to Sindh Governor Aftab Lodhi, Director ICCBS KU Prof Dr Muhammad Iqbal Chaudhry, Chairman Hussein Ebrahim Jamal (HEJ) Foundation Aziz Latif Jamal and Dean KU Science Faculty Prof Shahana Urooj Kazmi.
Prof Atta said that like Turkey, India and other countries, the higher education is a matter of federal government all over the world, as there are lots of problems at the provincial level to run the system. He said Nanotechnology is having a major influence in the development of previous fields of science and technology and engineering, including pharmaceuticals, natural sciences, biotechnology, agriculture, industry. The nanotechnology institute is being constructed under the direct supervision of Aziz Latif Jamal (Chairman, Hussein Ebrahim Jamal Foundation) as a magnificent gift to the nation.
Aftab Lodhi said that Sindh Governor Dr Ishartul Ibad has sent a special message of greetings on this historical occasion. He said the governor appreciated the monumental contributions of the HEJ Foundation for the promotion of health, education, and science and technology in Pakistan.
Aziz Latif Jamal said that HEJ Foundation is serving the nation. The Foundation had played a key role in the establishment of the world famous Hussein Ebrahim Jamal Research Institute of Chemistry at the University of Karachi, which has tremendous recognition for Pakistan in the field of chemical and biochemical science, including Islamic Development Bank Prize for Best Science Institution in the OIC region.
The HEJ Foundation has also established the largest digital library in this region, named as the Latif Ebrahim Jamal National Science Information Centre. This facility has access to over 31,000 science journals and over 60,000 books from 220 international publishers.
Prof Iqbal Chaudhry said that nanotechnology has found use in many fields, including manufacturing of new diagnostics, medicines, agrochemicals, defence products, engineering goods, etc.
He said the modern facility of the LEJ Centre will have a two-storey state of the art building with ten large laboratories, central instrument room, dedicated library, faculty rooms, seminar and meetings rooms, central workshop and pilot plant. Nanotechnology is having a major influence in the development of previous fields of science and technology and engineering.
Prof Shahana Urooj Kazmi said that the establishment of the institute was the need of the hour and HEJ Foundation has played a vital role in this regard. She thanked Aziz Latif Jamal for his continuous support for the development of the University.
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