Participants of a seminar at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) on Tuesday urged the government to make further investment in space technology and involve the youth.
The seminar was part of special activities linked to the World Space Week being celebrated at the UAF.
The event was organised in collaboration with the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) to spread awareness among the youth about space research.
Addressing the inaugural session of the space week at the Iqbal Auditorium, UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan said such events were being organised at the campus to get the students involved. “The event will help stimulate the learning process and push students to set high targets in their lives,” he said.
He said that during the last six years, the UAF had become a flagship academic institution of the country, setting new targets in research, higher education and extracurricular activities.
He praised the efforts and role of SUPARCO in holding the UAF in various research and development projects. “SUPARCO technology is helpful in crop forecasting, image processing and strengthening our engineering programmes,” he said. He vowed to make the collaboration more vibrant.
Dr Rahmatullah Jilani, the SUPARCO director, said that since its inception in 1961, SUPARCO had launched Badar-1 and Badar-II satellites in 1980 and 2001.
“In 2011, SUPARCO sent a communication satellite PAKSAT that enabled the scientists to make further advancements in medical, communication and agriculture sectors. SUPARCO is organising space week activities in 10 cities of the country,” he said.
Dr Allah Bakhsh of the UAF urged SUPARCO to set up a centre at the university to encourage the youth in space activities. “During the three-day activities, besides space walks and water rocket contests, the students will also participate in model-making, poster display, quiz, and declamation competitions,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 12th, 2014.
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