The MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) for the establishment of the Health Incubator and Software Technology Park at the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi, has been signed between the Federal Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, Government of Pakistan, and ICCBS, University of Karachi.
The MOU signing ceremony was held in Prof. Salimuzzaman Siddiqui of ICCBS, University of Karachi on Tuesday.
Addressing the ceremony, Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) Syed Amin UL Haque said that his ministry will continue his support and assistance for the establishment of these institutions. He said the ministry would also make an all-out effort to make the examination department of the country’s largest University of Karachi digitalize.
The ceremony was also addressed by the Vice Chancellor University of Karachi Prof. Dr. Khalid Mehmood Iraqi, Prof. Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman, ICCBS Patron-in-Chief and former Federal Minister for Science and Technology, Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary, Director of the ICCBS, and COMSTECH Coordinator-General, Mr. Aziz Latif Jamal, Chairman Husein Ebrahim Jamal Foundation, Ms. Nadira Panjwani, Chairperson Dr. Panjwani Memorial Trust, Mr. Ali Raza, CEO, Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB), Mr. Asim Shahryar Husain, CEO, Ignite, and Mr. Junaid Imam, Member IT.
Responding to the request of Dr. Khalid Iraqi, the minister assured him that that MoITT would make all efforts to declare the examination department of the University digitalized.
He emphasized the importance of the ‘Digital Pakistan Policy’, and said that this policy was paving the way for digital transformation across the Government as well as the private sector.
Tech Startups are an essential building block for innovation, entrepreneurship, and building a knowledge-based economy, he said, adding that MoITT through Ignite has established national incubation centers throughout the country to nurture innovation and entrepreneurship.
He said, “Following the cell phone manufacturing policy, the domestic production of 22 million smart mobile phones in Pakistan in the year 2022 was a big achievement.”
He said that not only local companies but also international brands were manufacturing mobile phones in the country at affordable prices. The minister said that Google had established its office in Pakistan, and it had also awarded 45000 scholarships to local students. The ministry is hopeful that in 2024 Google would provide more scholarships to Pakistani students, he added.
Dr. Khalid Iraqi said this was a historical occasion that ICCBS, University of Karachi, and MoITT were signing the MOU for the establishment of the Health Incubator and Software Technology Park.
He requested Ms. Nadira Panjwani to come forward and support Karachi University for the establishment of a Medical College in the varsity. Earlier, he also demanded the minister for the digitalization of the University’s examination department.
Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman said that the international center was the only institution in the country where the scientists received 32 civil awards and various other international awards collectively, which showed its excellence.
He said that ICCBS Technology Park and Technology Incubation Center were currently one of the largest incubation centers in the country.
This ICCBS Technology Park and Technology Incubation Center provides excellent facilities to start-ups, young entrepreneurs, and research and development units of already established industries, he said.
Prof. Iqbal Choudhary said this would be the first health tech incubator of the country where innovative solutions for health problems, and new product lines for disease diagnosis, surveillance, and treatment would be developed for the benefit of common men. He said that the core objective of these key institutions would be to develop an enabling environment for young inventors, innovators, and entrepreneurs.
Asim Shahryar Husain gave a brief presentation about the Ignites initiatives and said that Ignites focused on fourth industrial wave tech and on ecosystem development initiatives to fulfill its mission of creating a knowledge economy in Pakistan.
Aziz Latif Jamal said that the ICCBS was a beacon of hope for a prosperous Pakistan, as it was the source of knowledge that benefitted humanity.
Nadira Panjwani said that ICCBS was an administrative title of three state-of-the-art research institutions, working at the University of Karachi. She said that ICCBS had contributed to the global human resource development in the frontier fields of sciences.
