KARACHI, Jan 8: South Asian countries should embark on the arrangements for regional cooperation on the pattern of the European Union to speed up the pace of development in the region and thus help alleviate poverty. This was stated by the Nobel laureate Swiss scientist, Prof Dr Richard R. Ernest, here on Sunday.

He was delivering a lecture on the fourth day of the 10th International Symposium on natural product chemistry.

The five-day moot is being jointly organized by the Pakistan Academy of Sciences, the HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry and Dr Panjwani Centre for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research.

Prof Ernest also urged the scientists to assume social responsibility in addition to their basic research responsibilities.

He was of the view that all educational activities at varsities should be accompanied by extensive research practice.

HEC chairman Prof Dr Attaur Rehman also spoke on the occasion. He elaborated on the steps that were being taken in the country for the promotion of education and especially the higher learning.

Dr Atta informed that there was a plan to set up five engineering and three technology varsities in the public sector in the country with a sum of Rs80 to 90 billion.

In all, 600 delegates are attending the symposium. These include 197 scientists from 42 countries.—APP