KARACHI, March 8: President General Pervez Musharraf on Friday announced formation of a commission for major restructuring of higher education and science and technology sectors in the country.

The commission, which would replace the University Grants Commission, is being formed as part of the educational strategy of the government, the President said in separate speeches at the foundation-stone laying ceremony of the Umaer Basha Institute of Information Technology and inaugurating the 7th Eurasia Conference on Chemical Sciences at Karachi University on Friday evening.

He said a Human Development Commission Fund, headed by him, had also been constituted which would be utilized for promoting education, health provision and elimination of poverty.

“It would be a transparent fund from which we will, hopefully, be able to generate huge amount for human development in the country”, he said and appealed to philanthropists, specially Pakistanis living abroad, to contribute generously towards this fund.

President Pervez Musharraf spoke of a number of steps taken by his government for further improving the standard of higher education in the country. The government decided for economic revival as only through stabilizing national economy “we can spend money for the promotion of education”, he observed.

He said that the government had decided to spread IT from town to grass-roots level and establishing a technical school in every tehsil of the country. Saudi Arabia has agreed to provide funds for 200 technical schools in the country, he added.

He said as part of measures to promote IT in the country, the government had already given university status to COMSATS and FAST. A campus of the varsity had started functioning in Abbotabad since September last with contribution from the Army, he stated.

President Pervez Musharraf also announced that Virtual University would be launched on March 23. The government had decided to upgrade 24 campuses of Petroman to full-fledged university.

He said that Pakistan’s communications satellite would be placed in orbit by end of this year, which would facilitate distance learning programmes as well as telecommunications. A TV channel was being established to promote scientific and technological education in the country through distance learning.

The President said that during last two years, Internet had spread from 29 cities to 570 towns, cities and villages across the country. The bandwidth price came down from US$78500 per month to US$6000 per month for E-1 line in Pakistan making it the cheapest in the world.

He said Umaer Basha Institute of Information Technology, represents fulfilment of a mother’s dream. Dr Anwer Basha and Dr Fatima Basha, parents of an outstanding student Umaer Basha, opted for themselves a path of constant struggle to fulfil dream and vision of their late son Umaer. This Institute would have formal linkage with the US MIT and benefit over 1,200 students annually.

Speaking at the inauguration of the 7th Eurasia Conference on Chemical Sciences, organized by HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry, the President said Pakistan plans to produce 500 Ph.Ds during the next four years.

He said that conferences of this nature bring scientists of eminence together from distant lands and lead to scientific collaboration among them. He said it was heartening to learn that over 350 scientists from 35 countries would present research papers at the conference.

He noted that the HEJ Institute contributed significantly in development of the country. “It is highly credible that the Institute alone produces about 40 per cent of Ph.Ds awarded in science annually in Pakistan”.

He praised Hussain Ebrahim Jamal Trust, Mrs Nadra Panjwani and Umaer Basha Foundation for their contribution in promoting higher education in the country.

The President announced donation of Rs 5 million each for Umaer Basha Institute of IT and HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry to purchase books and journals for their libraries.

Earlier, Vice Chancellor Karachi University Prof. Dr Zafar Saied Saify in his welcome address said foundation-stone laying ceremony of Umaer Basha Institute of IT was a historical event.

“We are fortunate that several projects supported by various philanthropists were being speedily developed at Karachi University, the first being HEJ Research Institute”.

He said Umaer Basha Institute would impart high quality education to 1,200 students and conduct R&D works in IT and computer science.

He said at the four-day Eurasia Conference, 350 scientists from 35 countries would present their recent scientific findings.

Also present on the occasion were Sindh Governor Mohammadmian Soomro, Minister for Science and Technology Dr Ataur Rahman, President Federation of Asian Chemical Society Japan Dr H Ohtaki, Trustee of HEJ Foundation Aziz Jamal, Chairperson Umaer Basha Foundation Dr Fatima Basha and others.—PPI