11 April 2004	Sunday	20 Safar 1425

KARACHI, April 10: The government is developing a Rs400 to Rs500 million programme aimed at providing support to the 'weaker' universities in the country. This was stated by the Minister In-charge for Science and technology, Prof Dr Attaur Rehman , while talking to reporters at the HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry on saturday.

Baluchistan Governor Owais Ghani was also present on the occasion.

Prof Atta, who is also the chairman of the Higher Education Commission, said that the focus of this programme would be towards providing financial assistance to the 'weaker' varsities in Sindh and Balochistan, for which the PC-I had been prepared and that it would be placed before the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) for necessary approval.

He was of the view that such a programme would help the weaker varsities in the country make headway in education.

He believed that the main problem with system of education in the country was the lack of highly-qualified faculty.

Prof Atta pointed out that there were about 7,000 faculty members, out of which only 1,600 had the PhD qualifications.

He said that out of the 500 top universities in the world, there were only two varsities of the Islamic countries and both were Turkish.

He said that as many as 198 PhD degree holders were produced in the country last year and that this number was being increased to 1,500.

He said that a coordinated programme had been launched for production of the PhD degree holders.

Some 1,000 scholarships were also being extended with a view to foster a culture of research in the country, he added.

He also informed the audience that through a Rs6 billion programme, some 1,500 faculty members from abroad would be hired to serve at various universities in the country.

He said that for infrastructure development, the financial assistance to the universities had been increased from Rs800 to Rs5 billion and this would be further increased to Rs9 billion by next year.

To a question about the unauthorised institutions of higher learning, he said that the provinces would have to initiate action in this respect. Some of such institutions had been shut, he deplored.

Balochistan Governor Owais Ghani on Saturday, during his visit to HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry, KU, said that Baluchistan needed massive infusion of funds to strengthen its institutions of higher learning.

During his talks with Dr Atta, KU officials and HEJ scientists, Mr Ghani sought their assistance and collaboration for establishment of an institute of vaccinology and bio-technology in Balochistan on the pattern of HEJ institute and for training of agriculturists in tissue-culture technology.

He also praised HEJ scientists for their achievements in plant bio-technology and tissue-culture technology and requested the institute to provide virus-free tissue-cultured species of banana and palm oil trees for plantation in coastal areas of Balochistan, especially at orchids in Othal and its adjoining areas.

"We earn a lot from plantation of banana and palm oil at our coastal belt, but owing to fear of viral diseases, we need virus-free tissue-cultured species of both the plants," he added.

Mr Ghani, lauding research and academic progress made by the HEJ Research Institute, availability of high-tech equipment, trained and qualified faculty and its recognition around the globe, urged its administration to support Balochistan government for establishment of such an institute.

"Balochistan is quite weak in areas of basic and higher education and our varsities are not recognized even locally. We are trying to strengthen our institutions of higher learning and in this regard we need your support and collaboration," he added.

He pointed out that his province was also facing problems in the primary and middle level education sectors, and that there were 9,683 primary schools in Balochistan, whereas the number of middle schools was about 900 and because of this the dropout ratio of students was high.

He further said Balochistan government wanted its people, especially scientists and researchers, to be trained at other reputed institutions of the country, including KU and HEJ institute, while it needed HEC funding to strengthen its institutions of higher learning.

Mr Ghani also urged HEJ researchers to initiate research on a herb found in Peshawar and its adjoining areas, which according to him could be used in blood cancer treatment. Dr Atta asked Mr Ghani to send the plant to HEJ institute and assured him that it would be thoroughly checked and investigated.

He said Balochistan was also entering into an agreement with the HEC for strengthening shrimp farming in the province and by doing so, it was trying to bring the province into mainstream.

On the occasion, Mr Ghani also requested HEC chairman to send proposals on establishment of an advanced studies institute and said Balochistan was in dire need of having such an institute.

Dr Atta, welcoming the governor at HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry, informed him the institute had so far produced 240 PhDs.

"HEJ has scientific equipment worth $35 million and due to having high-tech equipment and trained and qualified researchers, we analyse 2,000 industrial samples every year," he said, adding that HEJ had been selected as International Centre for Chemical Sciences by international referees.

Dr Pirzada Qasim also spoke on the occasion.

Later, Mr Ghani visited parts of the HEJ institute, including its tissue-culture laboratories and plantation area.-APP\PPI