News Desk
KARACHI: The four-day 16th International Symposium on Natural Product Chemistry (ISNPC-16) was inaugurated at the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi, by the Chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Prof. Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, on Monday.
Around 60 scholars from more than 29 countries, along with 400 scholars from Pakistan, are participating in the conference. The inaugural ceremony, held at the Prof. Salimuzzaman Siddiqui Auditorium (ICCBS), was attended and addressed by Prof. Dr. Khalid Mehmood Iraqi, Vice Chancellor of the University of Karachi; Prof. Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman, Professor Emeritus and former Federal Minister for Science and Technology; Prof. Dr. Farzana Shaheen, Director of ICCBS; and Prof. Dr. Syed Ghulam Musharraf, ISNPC Organizing Secretary.
In his inaugural speech, Prof. Mukhtar Ahmed urged scientists to focus on providing relief to the common man, emphasizing that the time has come for science to serve humanity.
Discussing the commission’s initiatives, the HEC Chairman stated that significant investments are being made to equip Pakistan’s higher education institutions with cutting-edge tools and technologies. He highlighted the establishment of two state-of-the-art data centers—one at the University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore, and the other at NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi.
He further noted that HEC has launched projects supporting strategic research, quality assurance, IT initiatives, and capacity building. These initiatives have facilitated industry-academia collaborations, establishing quality enhancement cells in affiliated colleges, and improving IT infrastructure.
In his speech, Prof. Dr. Khalid Mehmood Iraqi emphasized that the ultimate purpose of scientific achievements is to serve humanity. Discussing the importance of natural products, he stressed the need to preserve medicinal plants from depletion and called on the relevant authorities to take measures to prevent their exploitation. He also expressed gratitude to all national and international guests for their participation in the symposium.
Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman delivered a detailed lecture on “Some Advances in Higher Education, Science, Technology, and Natural Products Chemistry.” He highlighted Pakistan’s rising research ranking, the increase in citation rates, and the urgent need for greater investment in science and research to compete with developed nations.
In her welcome address, Prof. Farzana Shaheen welcomed all national and international delegates, highlighting ICCBS’s outstanding reputation for scientific research and training, which extends beyond Pakistan’s borders. She noted that the center has received recognition from various international organizations, including its designation as a UNESCO Center of Excellence, WHO Collaborating Center, and OIC Center of Excellence. Prof. Shaheen highlighted the support of the Higher Education Commission and the Government of Sindh to the ICCBS, University of Karachi.
She also underscored the role of the Sindh Forensic DNA and Serology Laboratory (SFDL) at ICCBS in criminal investigations and convictions. She emphasized that in Sindh, DNA evidence provided by SFDL plays a crucial role in identifying perpetrators and exonerating the innocent, making it a powerful tool for the justice system. The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Prof. Dr. Syed Ghulam Musharraf.
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