ISLAMABAD, Nov 28: Higher Education Commission Chairman Prof (Dr) Attaur Rehman has stressed the need for excelling in scientific education, saying that among the 200 finest universities in the world , not even a single is located in a Muslim country.

The HEC chairman was speaking at the concluding session of the 5th International and 15th National Chemistry Conference held at the auditorium of chemistry department of the Quaid-i-Azam University on Saturday.

Dr Ata, in an optimistic tone, emphasized that at least there should be one university from the Muslim world. He said, "In my opinion, that university should be the QAU as it is providing quality education in relevant subjects, besides helping students access knowledge at higher level in a fine manner."

The Higher Education Commission chairman said he had been striving hard to bring back, undoubtedly the best, Pakistani faculty serving abroad with a target that they would able to train Pakistani students who were in a dire need of quality education at higher level.

He said he wanted from the universities to introduce journals for ensuring easy access to knowledge to students, and develop quality laboratories that were well-equipped with scientific tools.

Dr Ata also presented a shield to Prof (Dr) Troy of Australia, who had come just to attend the conference. The QAU Vice Chancellor, Dr Usman Ali Ghani Isani, appreciated the services rendered by Dr Attaur Rahman for enhancing the quality of higher education in the country.

Meanwhile, Prof Dr Rashid Iqbal, in his concluding remarks, said 318 chemists/researchers from far-flung areas of Pakistan as well as abroad, especially Australia and Bangladesh, participated in the four-day-long conference.

The conference comprised five technical sessions in five main branches of chemistry, i.e. physical chemistry, organic chemistry, inorganic analytical chemistry, environmental chemistry and biochemistry/agricultural chemistry.

During the conference, 90 articles were presented, whereas the average attendance in each session was recorded at 45 to 48 people. A poster competition highlighting chemistry-related researches was also organized on the occasion. After evaluation of the posters by a committee appointed by the QAU, certificates were issued to five students for preparing the best posters.