Scientists and researchers in Pakistan can now connect with colleagues across the globe via a link with the world''s largest computer network dedicated to research and education, Brussels announced on Tuesday. Europe''s GEANT network, to which academics in Pakistan will now be able to connect, already links researchers from Reykjavik to Vladivostok.
"Europe is delighted that Pakistan''s scientists and academics are now connected to the global research and education community thanks to this new link," said European Commissioner for Information Society Viviane Reding. "This is an excellent model for co-operation between North American and European programmes, which I hope we can build on in the future," she added.
The move was made possible after the EU-funded Trans-Eurasia Information Network (TEIN), the Asian equivalent of GEANT, and the US National Science Foundation (NSF) - a US government agency supporting research and education - agreed to link up with the Pakistan Education Research Network (PERN). The Pakistan Education and Research Network is a nation-wide educational intranet connecting the country''s top educational and research institutions.