Physics centre to be renamed after Pakistan’s first Nobel laureate Abdus Salam
TO GO WITH Pakistan-religion-minority-science-Nobel,FEATURE by Waqar Hussain This picture taken on July 13, 2012, shows a worker cleaning the portrait of Pakistan's only Nobel laureate Professor Abdus Salam at the state-run school where he received his early education in the town of Jhang, 300 kilometers southwest of Islamabad. The two-room bungalow, the birth place of Pakistan's only Nobel laureate, today stands empty, testament to the indifference, bigotry and prejudice surrounding the country's greatest scientist. AFP PHOTO / Arif ALI / AFP PHOTO / Arif Ali
“PM has taken this decision in recognition of the great contributions of renowned Pakistani physicist Dr Mohammad Abdus Salam who is a major figure in the 20th century theoretical physics who shared the 1979 Nobel Prize in Physics for his contribution in the field of physics,” a statement issued by the PM House said.
Due recognition for Dr Abdus Salam demanded
Directives have been issued to the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training to put up a formal summary for approval of President Mamnoon Hussain.
Further, the premier has also approved the grant of “five fellowships annually to Pakistani students for PhD” in the field of physics through Higher Education Commission (HEC) in reputed international universities. “The fellowship programme is named as Professor Abdus Salam Fellowship.”
Dr Salam was the first Pakistani to receive a Nobel Prize in science and the second from an Islamic country to receive the honour. His remarkable achievement earned fame and prestige for the country which rightly deserves to be valued, it said.
‘Every child should be told about Abdus Salam’
The physicist also served the country as a top-level science adviser to the government of Pakistan from 1960 to 1974, a position from which he played a major and influential role in the development of the country's science infrastructure. In 1998, following the nuclear tests, he was issued a commemorative stamp as a part of Scientists of Pakistan, to honour his services.
Renaming the National Centre for Physics under his name would be another step towards honouring the Pakistani scientist who served the country and brought a good name for it.