Nato Scientific Achievement Award

It is a proud moment for Pakistan to learn that the Nato Scientific Achievement Award 2016 has been awarded to a Pakistani-American doctor, Dr Rashid A Chotani. The award is given by the Nato Science and Technology Organisation, which is the largest organisation focusing on defence science and technology. Dr Chotani’s work centres on medical countermeasures against biological agents, which is quite the hot topic when it comes to defence technology in the past decade and a half. Of course, Dr Chotani has been no stranger to Pakistan, although he is Pakistani-American. His efforts and contributions to Pakistan are also lauded, such as his work with the National Institute of Health. It is also prestigious to have him serve as adviser to Pakistan’s Ministry of Health. This is one positive feather in the cap for Pakistan as we leave 2016 behind with all of its negativity.

One might wonder about the future implications Dr Chotani’s discovery will have, not only in terms of who uses his technological discovery against whom, but the political implications as well. The reality of war is all too realistic and it has been for the past 15 years. We are well aware of the chemical warfare being waged by factions in Syria. That a doctor with Pakistani origin was granted an award from a high-level organisation is praiseworthy owing to the ingenious knowledge and skill it must have required, but the sad truth is that defence technology is no longer limited to a theoretical field; it has vast applications in today’s war-ridden world. Nonetheless, like Dr Chotani, Pakistan must continue fostering enterprising minds and impart sound scientific training to its students. We are known for churning out talent from time to time in various fields, be it science or literature but we must continue harbouring the types of environments in which intellectually inclined students and adults can thrive. When we do so, we will be able to restrict the brain drain from the country and enable citizens to contribute positively to our own departments and industries, much like Dr Chotani has. 

Published in The Express Tribune, December 31^st, 2016.

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