ISLAMABAD, Aug 31: Pakistan and Cuba are deliberating on a plan to increase links in higher education particularly in the field of biotechnology. This came under discussion during the meeting of Dr Attaur Rahman, chairman Higher Education Commission (HEC), and Mr Gustavo Machin Gomez, Cuban Ambassador to Pakistan, on Thursday.

Dr Rahman appreciated the Cuban gesture of awarding Pakistan 1,000 scholarships in medicine. He proposed a joint programme for the establishment of a centre of excellence in biotechnology in Pakistan. It would be set up by the HEC with the technical support of Cuba.

The proposed centre would have at least 100 PhD faculty members and over 1,000 students at its completion with at least top 20 Cuban scientists, each working for at least a year.

Special emphasis would be given to linkages with industry. Cuba’s technical expertise, specially in biotechnology, could have its impact felt right across the Islamic world as scientists from 57 Comstech countries would be able to train and conduct research at the new centre.

Further cooperation was possible through establishment of linkage between the existing institutions in Pakistan and Cuba in the field of biotechnology, said Dr Rahman.

He identified National Institute of Biology and Genetic Engineering, Faisalabad, Centre for Applied Molecular Biology Lahore and Dr Panjwani Centre for Molecular Medicine Karachi as possible centres and requested the Cuban ambassador to identify partner centres in his country.

The linkage would include exchange of scientists, conduct of joint research at doctorate and post doctorate levels and industrial linkage between the two countries.

Ambassador Gomez expressed his pleasure and willingness for the suggested collaboration and revealed that the area of biotechnology was one in which Cuba excelled, including the field of vaccines development and production, and creation of new pharmaceuticals.

“The best investment a country can make is investment in education,” said the ambassador, “Cuba made such an investment over 40 years ago and now we are reaping the harvest.”

It was also proposed that the 1,000 Pakistani medical students could do specialization, PhD in biotechnology, from the leading Cuban universities.