QAU to get $16.3 million lab to enable market-based research

Author: Muhammad Faisal Kaleem

The issue of modern equipped laboratories ever remained a hot issue at Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) Islamabad but now a state-of-the-art high-tech computational lab is planned to be established with the installation of software worth $16.3 million, Daily Times has learnt reliably.

According to the available information, the lab, which is first of its own kind, would be established at the Department of Earth Sciences with the cooperation and funding from the alumni of the department. The lab includes six systems and very expensive software worth of 16.3 million US dollars which would enable market-based research and competitive output. “This initiative is likely to uplift the research standards of the department significantly and is likely to pioneer a new culture of research at the department and the university,” said an official at the varsity.

Dr Aamir Ali, who has recently resumed the charge of Chairman of the Department of Earth Sciences, confirmed the development and extended his deepest and profound gratitude to the alumni of the department for having stood tall and towering in helping the department and the alma mater. He further reiterated that the establishment of this high tech lab was never possible without the support of the alumni and the Vice Chancellor Dr Muhammad Ali

Dr Aamir said that applauded the VC cooperation in entire development. “He is is supportive, appreciative, and resourceful in taking and backing initiatives,” Dr Aamir appreciated. The chairman also lauded the support and hard work of his colleagues who he said are working day in and out in uplifting the academic standards of the department to reclaim the lost glory. Dr Aamir Ali said that he intended to make the department competitive and at par with the market demand and cultivate a culture of rigorous research and stand out academic standards.

General Secretary of the Academic Staff Association (ASA) of QAU Dr. Raja Qaiser Ahmed applauded the unrelenting and arduous efforts. He recalled that Dr Aamir Ali is steering a tremendous academic momentum and spearheads the department’s trajectory in becoming the market leader.

Besides this, VC Dr Ali said while talking to Daily Times that the QAU and Bir Ventures, USA Limited (IdeaGist) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with an aim to establish an Emerging Technology Science Park at QAU that he said is a landmark achievement. He claimed that establishment of Emerging Technology Science park will accelerate the commercialization of knowledge-based products and provide services to academic and research communities through intellectual property developed by the varsity. According to him, the MoU would also help to recognize the mutual interest in the fields of education, training, development, and dissemination of knowledge at local, national, and international level.

Meanwhile, while addressing the Vice Chancellors Round Table Conference here at the university the Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood highlighted that narratives thrive in universities and educational institutions. “Along with discipline and hostels, issues regarding narratives are also growing in universities,” he said. Over two dozen VCs across the country participated in the conference.

The minister said that this was the first conference of its kind being held after the Covid-19 outbreak and hoped that the situation would improve. “There are many facets to extremism and extremism,” he hoped.

While further explaining the narratives building, the minister recalled that multiple narratives thrive in universities and educational institutions. Bold statements should be made to counter them. Steps need to be taken to promote tolerance among teachers at the university. The minister also said that universities have other issues including discipline and hostels, there is also this issue of narratives. “An educated person is one who can tolerate the opinion of others and not become an enemy of others by listening to their point of view,” he added.

For character building, listening to and tolerating the opinions of others is important and its training is direly needed at universities. Contacts of political parties with student unions do not yield good results. “We are not against the Students Union. We are in the process of clarifying its features,” he suggested.

Share
Leave a Comment

Recent Posts

  • Health

Climate change، growing threat to eradicate polio from the world. WHO

LAHORE: The World Health Organization (WHO) said that climate crisis and its threat to health…

7 hours ago
  • Pakistan

Parliament passes bills on military chiefs tenure extension, SC expansion

The National Assembly on Monday passed six bills, including one seeking an increase in the…

19 hours ago
  • Pakistan

SBP cuts key policy rate by 250bps to 15pc

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) announced on Monday that it had decided to cut…

1 day ago
  • Pakistan

Verdict reserved on Imran, wife’s bail pleas in 7 cases

The district and sessions court in Islamabad on Monday reserved its verdict on bail pleas…

1 day ago
  • Pakistan

Six terrorists killed in two KP operations

At least six terrorists were killed by the security forces in two separation operations in…

1 day ago
  • Pakistan

Punjab has no plan to buy PIA, clarifies minister

Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari on Monday said that the provincial government had "no intentions"…

1 day ago