ISLAMABAD, Aug 20: Chairman Higher Education Commission Dr Attaur Rahman has said efforts are also being made to develop pure sciences such as mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the 6th International Pure Mathematics Conference here on Saturday, he said the HEC had established a world class national centre for mathematics at the Government College University, Lahore, where foreign mathematicians had been engaged through the foreign faculty hiring programme.

Simultaneously, he added, the HEC was upgrading the mathematics departments at the Quaid-i-Azam University, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Karachi University and Comsats to bring them at par with international standard institutions.

Dr Ata said he had discussed matters relating to promotion of the discipline with the President of International Mathematicians Union, Prof Jon Ball of the Oxford University.

“He not only agreed upon our suggestions but also offered all his help and services for our institutions of higher learning.”

Stressing on the need for scientific research, Dr Ata said research was a global activity and in order to keep abreast with the latest developments one of the important steps was to develop a research culture that can provide impetus to the discipline in the country.— Our Reporter