FAISALABAD, April 5: The National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE) is fully prepared to provide trained staff in biotechnology and genetic engineering. This was stated by NIBGE director Dr Ahmad Mukhtar Khalid while inaugurating the second training course on 'Modern Techniques in Biotechnology' here on Monday.

He said 25 biotechnology institutes have been set up but there was shortage of trained staff. NIBGE has been mandated to provide training in addition to conducting research, he added.

He said NIBGE started M.Phil five years ago and launched PhD programme last year. "We have just completed enrolment of second batch of PhD comprising 20 students who got scholarships from the Higher Education Commission."

Course organizer Dr Fauzia Yousaf explained the procedure for the selection of participants and details of the course. She said only 21 people had attended the first course while this year 26 were picked out of 80 applicants. A Sudanese and a Yemeni have also been enrolled this year, she added.