Glowing tributes paid to Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan

Renowned scholar and former vice chancellor of the University of Karachi, Professor Dr Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui on Monday launched Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan’s book ‘Contribution to Science Technology and Education’ on his first death anniversary.

The launch ceremony was held at the Jinnah Auditorium of the Dr AQ Khan Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering at the University of Karachi.

Prof Qasim mentioned that every Pakistani loves late Dr AQ Khan unconditionally because the Dr AQ Khan loved his motherland unconditionally.

He further said that without establishing knowledge-based society we cannot get international recognition and third world countries, developing nations and countries like Pakistan have to adopt the knowledge-based culture to survive.

The KU VC, Professor Dr Khalid Mahmood Iraqi said that Dr AQ Khan was a visionary person and knew the art to establish and promote research institutes.

"Dr AQ Khan once told my father that the amount spent upon Pakistan’s atomic achievement was less than the annual loss of the national flag carrier Industrialist Mian Arshad Farooq Senator Abdul Haseeb Khan informed the audience that Dr AQ Khan had planned to produce cheapest electricity with the help of China in every city of Pakistan. After completing all necessary homework, he submitted a file to the government to make electricity by using atomic technology which could have dropped the power tariff to Rs1 to Rs3 per unit.

Senator Abdul Haseeb said, had the governmented Dr AQ Khan’s plan, our manufacturing and industry would have been able to get the boost but unfortunately his planned was never considered. Well-known industrialist Mian Arshad Farooq mentioned that late Dr AQ Khan was a person with many specialities. After successfully producing peaceful atomic technology for the country, he focussed on health, education and charity work.

“Dr AQ Khan once told my father that the amount spent upon Pakistan’s atomic achievement was less than the annual loss of the national flag carrier,” Farooq said.

One of co-authors of the book, Professor Dr Raza Shah said that after the father of the nation Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Dr AQ Khan was the most beloved personality of the country.

Earlier, the Director General KIBGE and another co-author of the book, Professor Dr Abid Azhar informed the audience that this book aimed at introducing Dr AQ Khan’s role and achievements in the science and technology and education sectors.

Dr Dina Khan, the daughter of Dr AQ Khan, as well as Dr Anwar Nasim shared their thoughts on the book through their recorded video messages from Islamabad and Canada