FAISALABAD, March 24: A modern biotech park will be developed in Lahore to showcase technologies, inventions and scientific products of the National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE).

This was stated by NIBGE director Dr Yousaf Zafar while speaking to participants at a meeting here on Friday.

He said the NIBGE had developed several technologies, products and vaccines, which could be utilised economically by our industrial and commercial organisations.

Specifically mentioning achievements of the industrial biotechnology division, he said the most prestigious civil award of Sitara-i-Imtiaz had been conferred upon its head Dr Muhammad Ibrahim Rajoka in recognition of his meritorious services.

He said the team of Dr Rajoka had developed a series of technologies to locally-prepared industrial enzymes and rare chemicals by using biotechnology.

Similarly, other divisions of the NIBGE had also successfully prepared pharmaceutical protein, vaccine, etc., on experimental basis. These products were currently imported by spending precious foreign exchange.

Dr Zafar said the initial planning for the biotechnology park had been completed and work on it would be started within a couple of months.

The park would be established with an estimated cost of Rs500 million with the support of the Science and Technology Ministry, he said.