Society must benefit from academic research: Dr Arshad

Higher Education Commission of Pakistan's Executive Director Professor Dr Arshad Ali has said that the benefits of academic research must reach the society and this was one of the basic objectives of academic institutions to do research which could contribute to country's economic development. He was addressing the inaugural session of three-day international symposium on "Advances in Molecular Biology of Plants and Health Sciences" organized by Punjab University Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology (CEMB) at Riazuddin Auditorium here on Tuesday.
PU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Zafar Moeen Nasir, Regional Director HEC Pakistan Nazir Hussain, CEMB Director Professor Dr Tayyab Husnain and over 100 scientists from China, Germany, Turkey, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and from different parts of country were present on the occasion.
Addressing the conference, Dr Arshad Ali said that universities were meant for creating new knowledge in the relevant fields and transferring the knowledge to the next generations. He said that we must popularize science to our children so that they could idealize their future by pursuing science education.
He said further that researchers at CEMB were doing wonderful job in disciplines of agriculture and health sciences and there was need to disseminate their achievements to the leadership, common man and fellow researchers so that they could play their part in the progress of our country. He expressed the hope that the symposium would provide a platform for international collaborations and students would benefit from experience of research scholars from different parts of the world.
PU VC Dr Zaffar Moeen Nasir said that researchers at CEMB were working for the welfare of common man. He said that the cotton seed developed by CEMB would save Rs 144 billion of Pakistani farmers and bring revolution in the country. Dr Tayyab Husnain in his welcome address said that the idea behind the international symposium was to gather scientists, share science and search ways to collaborate.
He said that the participation of such a large number of molecular biologists from agriculture and health sectors in this symposium was a good omen and showed the magnitude of the interest of the participants. Earlier, lateron Monday, CEMB held its alumni dinner at the centre's lawns in which more than 300 alumni participated. Dr Zafar Moeen Nasir motivated the alumni to do better in their life and bring their matter and country to limelight.