KARACHI, May 6: Researchers are being encouraged and supported by the Higher Education Commission and the commission is going to launch two new TV channels within next three months, which will be of immense help to students and teachers involved in research.

This was stated by Prof Dr Atta-ur-Rehman at a dinner hosted in his honour by the teachers of Karachi University on Tuesday to congratulate him on conferment of Nishan-i-Imtiaz on him by the government.

He said another two TV channels would be launched sometime next year. He added that HEC was striving to promote research activities at universities.

“During past five to six months, about 150 research projects have been approved by the HEC. The HEC reports directly to the Prime Minister due to which advancement in the field of science and technology has been accelerated,” said the HEC chairman.

He said during the 50 years after independence, very few Ph.Ds were produced in Pakistan and added that there was a lot of work to be done in this field.

He stressed that the teachers should create international linkages for updating knowledge of their relevant fields.

He said a national committee had been set up to accommodate social sciences for financial grants in view of their importance.

He informed that the Prime Minister had constituted a task force to work on the project of solar energy which would be capable of introducing far cheaper energy for the people.

On this occasion, services of Dr Atta-ur-Rehman for advancement of science and technology in the country, in particular and promotion of higher education, in general, were praised.

He further said that the prime minister had constituted a task force on solar energy and work is being done on this project which is capable of introducing far cheaper energy for the people.

He said the HEC reports directly to the prime minister and owing to this, the advancement in the field of science had acquired tremendous acceleration.—APP