March 11, 2008	Tuesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 2, 1429

ISLAMABAD, March 10: Nations cannot survive without focusing on research activities, especially in the field of science, Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) Vice-Chancellor Prof (Dr) Mehmudul Hassan Butt said.

He was speaking at the concluding session of a two-day training workshop entitled “Atomic Absorption Spectrometry: Basic Theory and Recent Trends”, which was held in collaboration with the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and the Chemical Society of Pakistan.

The AIOU has concentrated on equipping laboratories at the newly-built Science Complex with state-of-the-art equipment and chemicals, Mr Butt said. According to him, the complex would become a centre of excellence for the scientists in the country.

Prof (Dr) Riazul Haq Tariq said the AIOU was an important educational institution that had set examples in all important fields, adding that it would continue to follow this tradition.

Publication of research papers by the teachers of science faculty in 13 different journals of international repute is a commendable success for which both researchers and their assistants deserve an applause, he added.

Prof Tariq said the AIOU was going to launch a four-year BS Chemistry programme shortly.

He said the HEC would continue to give chances to retired personnel, for professor and scientists never retire. AIOU’s Faculty of Science Dean Prof (Dr) Mohammad Kaleem Tahir said that without the contribution of the HEC and the government, the AIOU had completed its various projects by utilising its own sources.

He said the university was providing opportunities at FSc, MSc, MPhil and PhD levels in chemistry and soon the AIOU would launch internationally acceptable MS Chemistry programme.

Chemical Society of Pakistan president Prof (Dr) Din Mohammad said this programme was initially designed for 20 researchers, but we had to extend it to 45 keeping in view the interest of educational institutions, Dr A.Q. Khan Research Laboratories, Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, National Defence University, Quaid-i-Azam University, Fatima Jinnah Women University, girls and boys degree colleges, besides scientists from various industries.