KARACHI, Dec 14: The Chairman, Pakistan Council for Scientific, Industrial Research (PCSIR), Dr Anwarul Haq, has said universities play a dominant role in the development of a country.

Speaking at a seminar on "The Role of Universities in Economic Development", organized by the Institute of Business and Technology Karachi on Tuesday, he stressed upon close contact between universities, the industry and research, and development organizations for the socio-economic development of the country.

Dr Anwar discussed in detail the technologies developed by the PCSIR such as the rotary kiln, neem oil expeller, solar dehydrator, apricot and dates of exportable quality, textile dyes, automatic dye bath, chemicals and modification of the Iqbal Shaheed Bridge (the NWFP).

He said keeping in view the fact that over $5-4 million worth of diagnostic kits and reagents were imported into the country annually, the PCSIR developed diagnostic laboratory kits. These were then supplied to hospitals and clinical laboratories etc for evaluation, and found not only to be equivalent in quality to the imported ones but also faster and economical.

The PCSIR chief also discussed in detail the 'Industrial Linkage Programme' and 'Technology Business Incubator' (TBI) of the PCSIR. He said the TBI was a business assistance programme that nurtured young industrial firms by helping them to survive and grow during the start-up period and facilitate their development by providing them with technical and financial support.

Dr Anwar stated that the PCSIR Laboratories Complex in Karachi, the National Physical Standards Laboratory in Islamabad, and the Leather Research Centre in Karachi had become the first laboratories of the country selected for being accrediting with the International Standards for Laboratory Management -- ISO 17025.

He said the award of ISO 17025 to the PCSIR Laboratories authenticated that the services offered by these laboratories were credible and according to the international standards.

The PCSIR chief was of the view that the measure was a step forward for the country to meet the WTO challenges. He added that by availing accredited testing and calibration services offered by the PCSIR to industries, manufacturers and traders, Pakistan could get its products accepted world wide. - APP