KARACHI, March 8: The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved a scheme worth Rs500 million for the extension of research facilities and introduction of more subjects at HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry, University of Karachi.

This was disclosed by Dr Mohammad Iqbal Chaudhry, acting director HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry, while presiding over a meeting at the institute on Tuesday.

Dr Chaudhry said the decision was taken at a recent ECNEC meeting, presided over by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and also attended by Chairman HEC Dr Attaur Rahman. He informed that the grant would be utilized for introducing teaching and research facilities in the fields of Industrial Biotechnology, Food Chemistry, Coal and Petroleum Chemistry at the institute.

In addition, construction of a new lab building, residential facilities for foreign scientists, establishment of an industrial support centre and a biotechnology park were also part of the extension plan, for which Karachi University would provide 30 acres of land, he added.-PPI