Conference on Molecular Biology: Keeping up pace with the scientific world

At least 4% of the budget must be allocated for education: expert.

Dynamic and world-class research is crucial for the socio-economic uplift of the country, said Federal Minister for Science and Technology Changez Khan Jamali on Tuesday. He was addressing the concluding session of the National Conference on Trends in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU), said a QAU press release.

The federal minister underlined the need to utilise potential to create a scientific culture. “In order to make our economy grow, we need a new wave of people equipped with modern scientific and technological skills,” he said.

QAU Vice-Chancellor Dr Masoom Yasinzai said that education in Pakistan deserves more attention if the country is to compete with the rest of the world. The developed world has understood the importance of knowledge economy, he said, adding that at least 4% of the budget must be allocated for education. He said education, innovation, development of science and technology and political will of visionary leadership are the four pillars of prosperity.

“Today the role of the universities has changed. Universities must assume the role of innovation promoting knowledge hubs with an ultimate aim of promotion of indigenous development,” Yasinzai said.

The conference was organised by the Biochemists Association Quaid-i- Azam University in collaboration with Department of Biochemistry.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 22^nd, 2012.