The Hussain Ebrahim Jamal (HEJ) Research Institute of Chemistry, Karachi University, has been selected for the most prestigious Islamic Development Bank (IDB) Prizes for Science and Technology, including cash award worth $100,000. An announcement here on Wednesday said that the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) has declared Hussain Ebrahim Jamal (HEJ) institute of Pakistan as the best science institution in the Islamic World.
It said that the prizes, including cash award, trophy and certificate, will be presented to the director of the institute in a special ceremony to be held on the occasion of the 35th IDB Board of Governors meeting in Baku, Azerbaijan during 23 to 24 June.
The Selection Committee of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) Prizes for Science and Technology has decided to award for Science and Technology in the category of Institutions having achieved outstanding contribution to a given scientific discipline to the HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry, Karachi University.
"I hope that the award of this prize will encourage more science and technology institutions in Pakistan to strive for achieving excellence" said IDB President Dr Ahmad Muhamed Ali in an official letter, issued to Director International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), Karachi University.
Vice Chancellor of Karachi University, Professor Dr Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui, and Former HEC Chief Professor Dr Atta-ur-Rahman have congratulated the director and staff of the ICCBS for this great achievement and said that it was an honour not only for the Karachi University but also for the whole nation.
Director ICCBS Professor Dr M Iqbal Choudhary, in his statement said that the institute has the single largest doctoral programme in the country with over 250 PhD students. The main areas of research, development and training of students include natural product chemistry, protein chemistry, pharmacology and plant biotechnology, he added.