HYDERABAD, Oct 27: Sindh Education Minister Dr Hamida Khuhro has called upon scientists of the universities to join hands for collaborative research work for the benefit of society.

She was speaking as chief guest at the inauguration of the high-tech central resource laboratory and newly-launched discipline of MSc telemedicine and e-health programme of the University of Sindh here on Thursday.

Prof Khuhro said the university by setting up the laboratory has achieved high marks in the academic profile among the universities of the country.

She said that the university in the present times with all required facilities as well as faculty members and scholars has achieved a high reputation and stressed upon the university teachers to continue their efforts in research.

She said that it was good to see that the graduates of the university were competing in the job market fully equipped with knowledge and expertise.

Dr Khuhro said the university had attained the status of best educational institution in higher education and research.

She also underlined the efforts made by the education department for increasing the number of schools and facilities in degree colleges of the province and added that these efforts would help in providing good students to the Universities.

She said that the university due to its admission policy was attracting a large number of students and hoped that it would continue its efforts in improving quality of higher education.

She said that teachers of degree colleges would get benefit from scholarships as announced by the university and added that the study leave facility would also be provided to the teachers concerned.

The minister appreciated efforts undertaken by the university for promotion of higher education and research in sciences disciplines and suggested establishment of the Institute of History and Anthropology in the university and said that anthropology of Sindh was rich which needs attention for its preservation.

She offered full cooperation of the ministry of education in this regard. She welcomed the idea of vice-chancellor for handing over one or two colleges to the university for setting up institutes and for higher education and research facilities.

Vice-Chancellor Mazharul Haq Siddiqui in his welcome speech stressed upon the scholars for research work with dedication for the betterment of society.

He charged the University scholars to involve young scientists in research activities.

The vice- chancellor also emphasized upon the scholars for multiple use of available facilities in the high-tech central resource laboratory.

He said that university with the help of higher education commission which has provided Rs38 Million and with investment of its own resources of Rs13 million had completed the Laboratory project.

Mr Siddiqui stressed the need for university-industry liaison and said that the scholars through their research help the industry in the increase and quality of their products.

The dean of the faculty of natural sciences and project director of the HTCRL, Dr Mohammad Yar Khuhawar speaking on the occasion presented a brief introduction of the laboratory.

The former project director of the HTRCL Prof Asif Ali Qazi also expressed his views and highlighted the importance of Laboratories.

Dr Abdul Wahab Ansari, director of the Institute of Information Technology, presented introduction of the newly launched MSc telemedicine and e-health programme.

He said that the university had taken a lead among universities of SARAC countries by introducing MSc telemedicine discipline.

He said that with the facility of internet, medical treatment to patients of remote areas could be possible with lower investment.

University Registrar Dr Saeed Ahmed Soomro and other scholars also expressed their views on the occasion.

LUMHS: The Registrar, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences Jamshoro has announced that the date for short documents for admission in first year MBBS and BDS course for the session 2005-2006 at LUMHS and its affiliated colleges has been extended upto November 1.