KARACHI, Dec 8: The World Health Organization (WHO) has extended the status of the International Centre for Chemical Sciences (ICCS), University of Karachi as a 'WHO Collaborating Centre for Pesticide Analysis' for another four years.
This was stated by the Acting Director of the HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry, Dr Iqbal Choudhary at a press briefing on Wednesday. He said the ICCS was the first to be declared as a WHO collaborating centre in 1994 for 10 years for carrying out prestigious research work in the field of pesticides.
On termination of the said period, the centre approached the WHO for extension in the period for another four years, he added. According to Dr Choudhary, re-designation of the centre as a WHO collaborating centre would enable it to receive samples of pesticides from regional countries for quality control through chemical and physical analysis, and confirm whether the samples comply with WHO specifications or not.
The HEJ would also give research training in the field of pesticide analysis and allied fields to graduates, provide facilities to two senior visiting research workers for using the institute as a base for research of mutual interest, and send technical papers to WHO on pesticide analysis, produced by the Institute.
In addition to this, the establishment of a plant biotechnology park has also started at the ICCS with an estimated cost of Rs60 million, where research work would be initiated on virus and disease free plants, fruits and vegetables, he informed, adding that funds were being provided by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) for the purpose.
Another plant collection and processing facility was being established in Murree at an estimated cost of Rs18 million, he said. Giving details of his recent visit to England, he said the Commonwealth Organization had invited him to discuss the revival of the Commonwealth Science Council and scientists from other commonwealth countries.
To a query, he said the HEC Chairman, Dr Atta-ur-Rahman, had proposed establishment of a Quality Research Centre at Gawadar. Trained manpower would be provided by the HEJ Research Institute. - PPI
