The 4-day national seminar on "Advances in Plant Sciences" concluded with the recommendations for the establishment of the herbariums in the universities for the research in botany discipline and botanical survey for exploring the floristic frolics of Pakistan.
The Vice Chancellor Sindh University Mazharul Haq Siddiqui speaking at the concluding season said that the problem of endangered species especially in Sindh region needs urgent attention. He called upon the young botanists to come forward and complete the compilation of the flora of Sindh. He hoped that the scholars realising their responsibility would come forward and take opportunity from the offer of the university for full financial assistant for this mega research project.
He also announced that the university will establish a "botanical survey of Pakistan" and directed the institute for submission of the PC-I for its establishment without further delay.
He said that the science of botany is developing rapidly at the present time and added that some modern discipline have been introduced recently in colleges and universities of Pakistan. He said that the national seminars such as this play vital roles in understanding the modern concepts of identifying challenges, problems and misconcepts, particularly plant nomenclature. He attributed the rapid expansion to Internet highway that has revolutionised the exchange of scientific information.
He said that the botanical organisations appear to have plunged into this revolution in a big way and added that instant information on major classification of plants, database, herbaria, botanical garden and thousand of scientific illustrations are available to users, world-wide at the touch of a button.
He said that this entire database coupled with limited budget and threat of bulldozer should help us in identifying out priorities and focusing more clearly on them. He said that it is period of soul-searching and deciding on priorities, time is limited, plant life is at risk all over the world and in many areas if it is not sampled and studied now, there will not be another opportunity later.
Vice chancellor said that the plants are the fundamental source of food, energy, shelter, clothing, drugs, oxygen and form the aesthetic base of our environment.
He said that the Institute of Botany University of Sindh has been faithfully shouldering the responsibility of getting the message of new developments to the botanist of all part of our country. He said that the faculty there is well versed having necessary expertise to undertake research not only on this flora of Sindh but many other aspects of plants.
Dr K.M. Khan, former dean faculty of natural sciences, University of Sindh emphasised the need for the establishment of the herbariums in the universities under the supervision of botany departments and urged the proper funding and attention by the universities.
Dr Muhammad Yar Khuhawar Dean Faculty of Sciences said that the University of Sindh providing opportunities to university teachers to gather and exchange views for promotion of higher education and changes in the light of the modern development.
The Director Institute of Botany University of Sindh Dr Muhammad Tahir Rajput presented a brief report about the proceedings of 4-days seminar and lectures of the technical sessions and underlines the importance of the herbarium in the research of the botany discipline.