September 08, 2007	Saturday	Sha'aban 25, 1428

ISLAMABAD, Sept 7: The federal government has sanctioned Rs30 million for establishing linkages between Pakistani universities and the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics in Trieste, Italy, to collaborate in research.

According to the Planning Commission of Pakistan, the Italian centre, which is run by scientists for scientists, has active research groups in several areas of physical sciences and mathematics.

The areas of research include condensed matter and statistical physics; earth system physics; high energy, cosmology and astroparticle physics; mathematics and multidisciplinary laboratory.

Officials said the centre for theoretical physics had a long tradition of bilateral institutional collaborations to support scientists and to empower scientific communities in developing countries.

They said the goal of this collaboration was to develop a vigorous broad-based programme of mutual interest focusing on the training of faculty, joint lectureships, academic curriculum assessments and development of scientific contents and internet access.

The partnership will also allow Pakistani physicists to make better use of the facilities available at the Italian centre in furthering their research activities, they added.

The officials stressed that research in physics was vital for the economy of Pakistan and it was in the national interest to quickly improve physics research and teaching in the country.

Physics, as part of the basic sciences, is at the heart of modern technologies development, without research in the basic sciences there can be no autonomous technological development.—APP