KARACHI: Unwise urban design is the major cause of heatwave in Karachi, an expert has said at a seminar on Significance of Popular Science Writing held at L.E.J. National Science Information Centre at the International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), Uni­versity of Karachi, here on Wednesday.

The Pakistan Biotec­hnology Information Centre organised the skills development session in association with ICCBS, University of Karachi.

Speaking on the occasion, director of ICCBS Prof Dr M. Iqbal Choudhary said: “Science paves the ways of rationality in any society as it provides values to society.”

He pointed out that science could help feed the hungry as it contributed to poverty alleviation.

He observed that less than 0.1 per cent time of electronic media was dedicated to science and technology.

“Internet is also contributing to misinformation about science, and the spread of wrong information about Conocarpus tree planted in various parts of Karachi is an example of that,” he said.

Prof Jamil Kazmi talked about the use of drone technology for environment studies in Pakistan. He said there was no scientific evidence about destructive effects of Conocarpus tree in Karachi.

He claimed that unwise urban design was the major cause of heatwave in Karachi.

Timber mafia may have interest in rooting out Conocarpus tree from the environment of the metropolis.

“This is the job of scientists to decide which plant or tree is environment-friendly and which is not,” he added.

“Science enables people to work rationally. It is necessary for common people to understand science as it is of fundamental value for a knowledge-based economy and a knowledge-driven progressive society,” another speaker added.

“The promotion of science at the grass-roots level is the need of the hour in our society. Pakistan is confronting [the] devil of extremism ... while science is the best antidote to extremism,” a speaker said.

In the end, Dr Sammer Yousuf presented the vote of thanks.

Published in Dawn, June 21st, 2018