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KARACHI, Aug 19: The PIA planetarium will be shifted to the University of Karachi campus from its existing location, and will become a part of KU's Institute of Space and Planetary Astrophysics.
Talking to media men after inaugurating an IT institute's building at Karachi University, Dr Attaur Rahman, who is also the chairman of the Higher Education Commission, said that the shifting of the planetarium was discussed with the PIA authorities, and in principle it was agreed that the KU would provide a suitable piece of land for the purpose.
He said that he had also expressed willingness as HEC chairman to also take over other planetariums in the country for educational purposes. The planetarium in Lahore was functional, while at Peshawar installation of equipment was in pending, he added, mentioning that the HEC would also be setting up a planetarium at Quetta.
He said that universities at the provincial capitals would be required to submit PC-1s for securing the HEC grants to run the planetariums. In the meantime, talking to Dawn, Dr Pirzada said that at the initiative of the KU a meeting was held with the deputy managing director of the PIA, Farooq H Shaikh, on Thursday.
The PIA authorities had agreed in the meeting to transfer the equipment and other related machines of the existing planetarium to the university, while the HEC would provide funds for construction of planetarium building at the KU.
He said that the size and location of the land for the planetarium were yet to be decided, while the KU syndicate would also be taken into confidence on the issue. We want to make the planetarium a part of our space and planetary astrophysics institute, but at the same time the facility would also be made available to Karachiites.
The fate of the PIA planetarium, established in the 1980s, has been hanging in balance following a dispute between the PIA and the Export Promotion Bureau. While the EPB wants its land back, the PIA is reportedly no more willing to run the planetarium taking the plea that the project is no more viable.
LIBRARIES: Dr Atta said while talking to newsmen that a network of libraries would be set up in the country, adds APP. He said these national libraries would be set up in every city to help foster the habit of reading among the people, especially the students and the youth.
Dr Atta said the chairman of the Capital Development Authority, Kamran Lashari, had offered six plots for the purpose, which had been accepted by the HEC for to set up an equal number of libraries in the federal capital.
He said that he had also written to the City Nazim Naimatullah Khan to offer amenity plots in some areas, where such national libraries could be set up. He stated that the nazims of Lahore and Faisalabad had also been approached for the purpose.
Prime minister designate Shaukat Aziz was fully aware of the significance of education for the national development, Dr Atta said. He expressed satisfaction over the fact that a highly educated technocrat was assuming the office of prime minister in the country.
