KARACHI, Jan 10: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan on Tuesday directed the Vice Chancellor of the Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) Dr Masood Hamid to prepare a PC-1 for the proposed Jinnah Genome Centre at the varsity to initiate work on the planned project.
The said centre is being established on the directives of the governor to conduct research on gene chip or biochip technology, which will ultimately help check genetic disorders and guide doctors to prescribe tailor-made drugs that suit patients genetic make-up.
The establishment of the proposed centre was discussed at a meeting presided over by Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad. It was also attended by VC DUHS Dr Masood Hamid, Dr Hameed Khan from National Institute of Health US and Dr Ashraf Motan from Chief Planning Division of the federal government.
During the meeting, visiting expert from the US gave a detailed briefing on gene chip or biochip technology, currently being used by scientists for diagnosis of genetic basis or causes of diseases and their treatment.
Meanwhile, a delegation of British Education Foundation, headed by British High Commissioner Sir Nicholas Barrington, called on the Sindh governor at Governor House Karachi and discussed the possibility of cooperation between educational institutes of Pakistan and Britain.
The governor informed the visiting delegation that the government was working for improvement in education sector on priority basis and President General Pervez Musharraf was taking keen interest in improvement in health and education sectors in the country.
He informed that allocations in education budget had been increased by 200 per cent and land has been allocated for the establishment of an education city in Karachi.
The governor said Sindh had highly intelligent students and they could become highly beneficial for the country provided they are imparted quality education.
He also briefed the visiting delegation about steps taken by the government for improvement in law and order situation, industrial development, ongoing development projects in Karachi, and reforms being introduced in agriculture sector in the province.
The visiting British High Commissioner, Sir Nicholas Barrington, said some educational institutes in Karachi were of international standard and high repute while Sindh was land of Sufi saints, who preached moderation, tolerance and brotherhood.
He also paid tributes to late Dr Hameed Akhtar Khan and renowned social worker Abdus Sattar Edhi for their contributions and services for humanity.
EID MESSAGE: Pakistan came into existence after great sacrifices by the Muslims of the subcontinent and we will have to pursue Sunnat-i-Ibrahim (AS) for making the country strong and prosperous, and transforming it into an Islamic welfare state, says the Sindh governor.
In his message on the eve of Eidul Azha, Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan said: “Today, we all are celebrating Eidul Azha with religious fervour and solemnity. By keeping alive the true spirit of Aswa-i-Ibrahimi and submission of Hazrat Ismail (AS), we could get the light enough to eliminate the entire darkness from our society.—PPI/APP