KARACHI, Jan 14: A two-day workshop on natural product chemistry commenced here on Wednesday with a pledge to further the collaboration between Pakistan and France in all fields of science.
The science moot titled, "First Pak-France Workshop on Natural Product Chemistry", is being jointly organized by the HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry, the Embassy of France in Islamabad, and the Centre National de la Researche Scientifique. About 24 scientists from Pakistan and France are participating in the workshop.
Speaking as chief guest at its inaugural session, the vice- chancellor of Karachi University, Dr Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui, said that the objective of the event was to develop productive and vigorous research collaboration between the scientific community of the two countries (France and Pakistan).
He said there was no doubt that Pakistan was faced with a temporary phase of external and internal problems, but that would not compel its scientists and experts to work in isolation by any way. "We want to work in collaboration with other scientific community in the world, including France," he added.
Talking about progress made by France in the fields of science, technology and engineering, Dr Pirzada said that France, unlike "many of our so called friends', had always very openly and generously extended help and support to Pakistan in every field. "French help in fulfilling our much needed defence requirements is an outstanding example of genuine friendship," he added.
Referring to an agreement under which 50 Pakistani students would be accepted every year at various academic institutions for PhD programmes in France, Dr Pirzada held that as a milestone development in the relationship of both countries.
Prof Frederic Grare, French Counsellor for Cultural, Scientific and Technical Cooperation, briefed the participants and dignitaries present on the occasion about the objectives and strategy of the French Embassy in Pakistan regarding academic and scientific cooperation.
He said that the French cooperation with Pakistan had initiated many scientific research projects, promoted exchange programmes of scholars and experts from both countries, and sent many Pakistani students to French universities. However, he pointed out that the intensity of cooperation between the two countries had slowed down due to political reasons, which according to him, did not have to be developed here.
He stated that the French government was aware that scientific and academic cooperation was certainly not as rich and substantial, which it should or could be. "What we are trying to develop now as the first step is a sustained partnership," he added.
He said that globalization was a widely criticized concept these days and that would further be augured in the coming World Social Summit in Mumbai. However, globalization is a must in science and almost no scientific research can be conducted in isolation as very few laboratories had, alone, the human, technical and financial resources, he said and called for a common approach on the issue.
The organizing secretary of the workshop, Dr Iqbal Choudhary, said that the workshop would initiate vigorous scientific collaboration between Pakistan and France.
During the technical session of the workshop, Dr Bruno Figadere shared his investigations pertaining to chemistry of three natural products families with participants of the workshop.
Prof Philippe Grellier discussed antimalarial activity of natural substance. He said Malaria was responsible for two million deaths per year. He pointed out that some of the current methods of treating malaria patient involved complexities and as such there was the need of new antimalarial drugs.
About 10 scientists gave presentations during the first technical session, chaired by Dr G.A. Miana, on Wednesday. Meanwhile, one of the organizers of the 9th International Symposium on Natural Product Chemistry, clarified that second award in the science poster competition was given to Saima Jalil and not Sami Jalil.
