Scientist from South Waziristan bags coveted project

Dr Hameedullah works at Hazara University’s chemistry dept

PESHAWAR: A scientist from South Waziristan has won Pakistan-France Joint Research Project. Dr Hameedullah is a scientist from South Waziristan who works at the department of chemistry for Hazara University, Mansehra.

This was mentioned in a statement issued by Hazara University on Sunday. According to the document, the project was jointly offered by Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan and Ministry of Higher Education, France.



“Dr Hameedullah and Dr Pierre Bonnet from the Institute of Chemistry, Clermont-Ferrand, France will be carrying out the research project together,” the statement read. “They will work from France and Pakistan under the Pak-France Joint Research Programme 2016”.

As per the statement, Hameedullah is actively involved in various research initiatives and has also won grants for research projects in the past as well.

His research focuses on the development of nanomaterials for its applications in devices used to harvest renewable energies.

“Hameedullah has been recently awarded a research productivity award by the Pakistan Council for Science and Technology,” the statement added.

Modus operandi

According to the document, the project was evaluated by top experts of the field in France and Pakistan. The assessments were made based on the relevance of the project to the priority areas, scientific quality of the proposed research, competency of the principal investigator, potential for long-term collaboration between Pakistan and France and the impact on economy and society.

The final selection was made at a high-level joint committee meeting of Pakistan-France Peridot Research Programme (Phase-II). Only nine universities from all over Pakistan qualified for the final round.



“The research project addresses the growing energy crises being faced in the world in general in Pakistan in particular,” the document read.

According to the statement, the collaborating partners from Pakistan and France will work for the development of rechargeable batteries with high-energy capacities to be used for powering electronic gadgets, and specifically, vehicles.

“The project will help Pakistan overcome its energy problems and will also help make a clean energy source readily available,” stated the document. “[It] will also address challenges posed by global warming as well.”

The three-year research grant includes travel funds and living expenses for four people from Hameedullah’s research group and at least two members from Dr Pierre Bonnet’s research group.

The project will also help Pakistani students get international research training in a highly reputed European university in France.

“The exchange of scientific and academic personnel will promote exchange of cultural ideas and present a softer image of Pakistan on an international level,” the document added.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 20^th, 2016.