ISLAMABAD: Even though Pakistani researchers’ works have been published in various international journals, but those papers cannot be called research papers unless they provide value added information.

Researchers of developing countries, unfortunately, do not know how to do quality research.

This was noted by Professor Phil Thomas of Cardiff University United Kingdom (UK) while speaking to the participants of international conference on “Economic Development through Higher Education”, which began at Higher Education Commission (HEC) secretariat on Thursday.

The two-day workshop has been organised by the University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Peshawar, in collaboration with Comsats Institute of Information Technology.

Prof Thomas said that Pakistan can produce solar energy, water and wind energy but still it is going for fracking which will not only increase pollution but can also become a reason of earthquakes.

It is pertinent to mention that fracking is the process of drilling and injecting fluids into the ground at high pressure, in order to fracture shale rocks to release underground natural gas.

“Universities and scholars should have the capability to think outside the box. For that, the Vice Chancellors (VCs) of the universities should be good scholars with management and leadership qualities,” he said.

“Without having quality teachers, a good end product cannot be produced. Teachers’ training is must in UK, which is why students from all over the world come to UK for studies,” he said.

VC UET Peshawar Engr Syed Imtiaz Hussain Gilani said that higher education is the only sustainable engine for the economic growth of a country.

“In the last few years, HEC has directed its energies to achieve this goal.

However, the academics at higher education institutions and universities should be engaged with industry to find out indigenous solutions to the real problems of Pakistan,” he said.

He said that universities in United Kingdom are already partners of Pakistan’s higher education institutions, but there is a need to build joint partnerships for promotion of research.

“Universities must be designed as a meeting place to share ideas. Government, industry and people need to understand the future requirements of human resources. We have to change the syllabus which is being taught to students.

As much as Rs400 billion have been pumped in higher education during last ten years, but the results are not as good as they should have been,” he said.

VC University of Peshawar Dr Rasool Jan urged the academics, investors and government that they should reach a common platform for economic development.