LAHORE, Nov 17: Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) adviser Dr Mohammad Ashraf Chaudhry says if Indus water is properly utilised through construction of dams, the quantity of water required for prosperity of the people of Pakistan will be more than enough.

But unluckily, he said, this water was being wasted on account of political confrontation. He said the dream of industrial development and economic prosperity could be materialised only if abundant water would be available for sustainable industrial projects.

Dr Chaudhry was speaking at the Government College University where Japanese Kyushu University Prof A Yamauchi called on vice-chancellor Dr Khalid Aftab to initiate collaborative research for the conversion of brackish water into potable water through membrane technology, Reverse Osmoses process, ultra-filtration and electrodialysis.

Prof Yamauchi expressed his keen interest in producing indigenous plants in Pakistan for water conversion by producing membranes and membrane modules in collaboration with Japanese institutes.

Prof Aftab apprised the visiting delegation about GCU’s traditions and socio-cultural, economic and political contributions in the history of Pakistan. He also assured the delegation all-out institutional support regarding initiation of the project.

It was also agreed that the mutual exchange of research scholars and teachers should be initiated in order to train them for the production of polymer, membranes and membrane modules indigenously. It was stated that no Muslim country was producing polymer, membranes and membrane modules indigenously and ultimately spending foreign exchange worth billions of rupees to import these plants to convert millions of gallons of saline water of sea into potable water.

The meeting was also attended by dean of arts Dr Sohail Ahmed Khan, dean of science Dr Aminul Haq, Prof Iftikhar Ahmed, Prof Dr Islamullah Khan, Prof Dr Yaqoob Ahmed, Prof Iqbal Anjum and Iram Sohail.