KARACHI, July 19: The Vice-Chancellor of Karachi University, Prof Dr Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui, has emphasised the need of linkage between the industrial sector and the academic institutions so as to fully utilise the research work in various fields for the better of the country and its people. He was speaking as chief guest at the inaugural session of a three-day training workshop on Mud Crab (Genus Scylla) at the A Q Khan Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, University of Karachi, on Tuesday evening.

The moot is being organized by the Centre of Excellence in Marine Biology (CEMB), University of Karachi, and it is being sponsored by the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) through Agricultural Linkages Programme (ALP).

The purpose of the workshop is to disseminate knowledge and share experiences gained during a three-year project on “Farming of Mud Crab in the coastal earthen ponds.”

The VC highlighted the significance of the workshop and said this would contribute towards enhancing the crab export of the country.

He pointed out that the researchers at Karachi University have been doing a lot of work in various fields and there is a need to apprise those at the helm of affairs in the industrial sector to motivate them to invest in such ventures.

He stressed that such a task can be performed well through linkages between institutions of higher learning and the industrial sector.

Dr. Pirzada was of the view that the culture of collaboration was almost non-existent in Pakistan and that this should be reversed and such a spirit be inculcated.

He announced that University of Karachi will soon open an industrial liaison office.

The Vice-Chancellor said: “we are in touch with the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) which would help identify areas where the support is required.”

He stated that University of Karachi has an enrolment of about 20,000 and its science departments and research is very strong.

Dr Pirzada pointed out that with linkage programme money would also be available to fund the research activities at the University.

Earlier, the Director of the CEMB, Shaukat Hayat Khan, presented the welcome address.

Prof Dr Javed Mustaquim shed light on the salient features of the project.

As many as 140 researchers and scientists from various institutions are attending the moot.

They hail from Marine Fisheries Department, Sindh Fisheries Department, PCSIR, PARC, National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Sindh University Jamshoro, Hamdard University and various science departments of Karachi university.—APP