Recognition: Avoid shortcuts, go to the bottom of issues, says Rehman

NUST’s Centre of Virology & Immunology renamed after the scientist.

ISLAMABAD:

Always love the challenges and never run away from the difficulties you face in your careers. This was stated by Higher Education Commission former Chairman and former Federal Minister for Science and Technology Dr Attaur Rehman on Tuesday.

He was addressing students and faculty members at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) at a ceremony held for renaming the university’s Centre of Virology and Immunology (NCVI) as “Attaur Rehman School of Applied Bio-Sciences”. The centre was renamed to recognise the contribution of Dr Atta to the higher education as well his contribution as a pioneer of NUST.

While speaking at the occasion, Dr Atta said that scholars should realise the urgency of directing all their energies towards evolution of innovative sciences. He emphasised on the students to discover things as the universe is full of hidden treasures, which need to be tapped by scientists. He advised the students to never adopt shortcuts and always get to the bottom of issues, for ‘real’ success.

“If you go to discover something, you will find more things than you expect. So make the intelligent effort a habit in your life,” he said. Atta was of the view that Pakistan had never been victimised by the scarcity of individual talent, potential and natural resources; the only need was to exploit all those reservoirs.

He opined that Pakistan has made a significant progress in the recent years as far as the research publications are concerned and it has even over taken India.

However, he said, the government is spending a meagre amount on the higher education, which is the key hurdle in the way of fast progress.

He underscored that the future of Pakistan links with knowledge as the youth have great potential to discover and innovate new things in various fields.

NUST Rector Engr Muhammad Asghar applauded the contribution of Dr Atta to the higher education, saying that it was only through his dedicated endeavours that Pakistan was able to achieve laurels in higher education. He also urged the youth to follow the footsteps of Dr Atta.

He also emphasised the urgency of excelling in the field of science and technology in order to make a mark and also to be recognised as a nation with sound intellect within the academia.

In his opening remarks, while giving an overview about NCVI’s journey since its birth in 2007, NVCI Principal Prof Dr Muhammad Ashraf highlighted various accomplishments of the school.

He mentioned the centre’s mission to contribute towards eradication of animal and plant infectious and autoimmune diseases like Dengue, Hepatitis B/C, Cotton Leaf Curl Virus, Wheat Rust, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Diabetes Mellitus Type II, etc.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 8^th, 2012.