KARACHI, Sept 1: The Chairman, Higher Education Commission, Prof Dr Atta-ur-Rahman, on Wednesday inaugurated the first national chemistry contest at the HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry, University of Karachi.

As many as 50 talented students have been selected from all over the country for the five-day exercise which include lectures by eminent scientists. Dr Atta, on the occasion, highlighted the significance of science education and said that research in this sector should be undertaken to serve the country and the people.

He spoke of the importance of the discipline of chemistry in the process of development, mentioning the industrial revolution in Europe in this regard. Dr Atta said the chemistry contest was aimed at preparing youngsters for the International Chemistry Olympiad.

He said that the present government was attaching importance to higher education in the country, citing the enhancement of the the development budget of universities from Rs800 million to Rs9.1 billion. This budget, he said, would continue to rise till it reached one per cent of the GDP.

The chairman HEC said that 50 faculty members from every university would be sent abroad for higher education and training every year, adding that efforts to this effect were aimed at increasing the number of intellectuals and professionals.

The Chairman of the STEM Project, HEC, Prof Abdullah Sadiq, said the HEC had approved recommendations of the Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences, which called for highlighting the significance of science subjects by holding competitions.

Meanwhile, participants of the chemistry contest, who had obtained positions in the intermediate and 'A' level examinations throughout the country, would be apprised in detail about the applications of chemistry in the industry during the contest.

The idea for holding such an event was mooted by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) under the programme of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) career development.

HEJ's Prof Dr Ahsana Dar, Dr Khalid Khan and Dr Shaiq also spoke. Earlier, participants of the contest visited the International Centre for Chemical Sciences, the mausoleum of Father of the Nation Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.

Rs40m for KU pledged