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NATIONAL SCI-TECH SCENE
Rs27m allocated for environment sector
The NWFP government has projected in the 2004-05 budget a total of Rs27 million to be spent on the environment sector. The allocation for this sector has been increased this year as the budget document shows that Rs5.3 million was set aside in 2003-04.
Seven schemes, both new and old ones, have been included in the new budget expenditures, including the establishment of four model environmental villages, environmental protection of Swat and Panjkora Rivers and preparation of environmental profile of the NWFP.
Environment Protection Agency (Epa) officials said that due to a ‘lack of staff and capacity’ the agency could not utilize funds allocated in the outgoing fiscal. They said the government would have to strengthen the capacity of Epa to ensure 100 per cent utilization of funds. The government has estimated to spend Rs3 million for the establishment of model environmental villages in the province.
An official said that under the plan Epa would ensure proper sanitation and solid waste management facilities, conduct forestation campaigns and set up environmental clubs in the model villages to create awareness among people.
KFUPM and GIK collaboration
The King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), Saudi Arabia, and the Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology have agreed to collaborate in the field of engineering sciences and technology to achieve a breakthrough in different disciplines.
A decision to this effect was taken during the visit of a delegation from the King Fahd University comprising Dr Mohammad Abdul Aziz Al-Ohali, deputy dean of Graduate School and Scientific Research, and Dr Sadiq M. Sait, Chairman of Department of Computer Engineering, to the GIK Institute.
A briefing was arranged on the occasion about the two institutes, highlighting the undergraduate and graduate programmes, academic facilities, teaching and research labs, research publications, revision of curricula, international collaboration with reputed universities/ institutes, industrial linkages, civic facilities, financial assistance, co-curricular activities, financial incentives and opportunities and future programmes.
The presentation about the GIK Institute was conducted by its Rector Prof Dr Mohammad Naseer Khan, while Dr Sadiq M. Sait gave a briefing about the King Fahd University. The deans of all faculties attended the presentation.
The King Fahd University delegation is visiting the leading Pakistani universities and institutes of engineering sciences and technology to select students for scholarship.
NED to offer computer courses
The NED University of Engineering and Technology is introducing advanced professional courses for students of its BCIT programme from the new academic session, commencing January next, said sources on the campus.
It was learnt that Department of Computer Science and Information Technology (DCIT) at the university would offer four new schemes to newly admitted students on payment of nominal fee. On successful completion of all four courses, one in each year, a students would be handed over a certificate in recognition of his advanced proficiency.
BZU to report the governor
The Bahauddin Zakariya University authorities have yet to submit report to Punjab Governor Khalid Maqbool which he had sought eight days ago about the state of affairs of the institution’s high-tech chemistry laboratory.
The laboratory was set up last year at a cost of Rs39.762 million funded by the Higher Education Commission. However, indecision at the administrative level and internal conflicts have rendered it non-functional for the last almost three months.
The laboratory was initially approved by the ministry of science and technology (MoST)in April 2001. The then chairman of the BZU chemistry department, Prof Dr Humayun Pervez, was appointed the project director. He along with Prof Dr Saeed Iqbal worked diligently to establish a state-of-the-art laboratory for postgraduate and doctoral research.
Sources at the BZU said Dr Saeed left the university due to some unfavourable circumstances and joined the newly established Sargodha University.
The university officials, however, took no interest in resolving the matter. The governor, who is also chancellor, took notice of the issue published in a daily and sought immediate report from the BZU vice-chancellor on June 10 last.
Sources disclosed that the VC surprisingly also forwarded the governor’s letter to the university’s legal advisers, besides sending it to the chemistry department chairperson and assistant registrar (legal). They said legal advisers were not the part of the university establishment.
“We are at a loss to understand why the VC has sent the letter about an administrative problem to the legal advisers, the sources said. — Sci-tech World Report
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