It is a fortunate venture that a research by a
Pakistani Scientist has been recognized by International community
which helped in establishment of UNESCO Chair in the University, Pakistan
may face the problem of scarcity of food and water like Ethiopia in
the next 5-10 years, if any appropriate measures will not be taken.
University of Karachi is the pioneering institute around the world
which is efficiently dealing with fore mentioned threats to life in
the country while using the resources which are naturally present
in the region and are cost effective. This national favor should be
the motto of every scientist, they should consider the fact that their
research should not become a stagnant part of the book shelves”
said Prof. Dr. Javed Laghari (T.I.), Chairman, HEC, in his address
to the inaugural ceremony of UNESCO chair in the Institute of Sustainable
Halophyte Utilization, KU, on October 26th 2009 at Umaer Bhasha Institute
of Technology. The fact should be accentuated that this is the only
Halophyte UNESCO Chair throughout the world.
Vice Chancellor, KU, Prof. Dr. Pirzada Qasim Raza
Siddiqui, expressed his gratitude on the efforts put by Prof. Dr.
Muhammad Ajmal Khan, Director, ISHU, and his team for bringing such
an honor to the University. He emphasized that our researchers are
doing their best; the need of the time is the establishment of a link
between the research and the industrial community. The demand and
supply cycle of water is under tremendous strain in arid and semi
arid regions of the world. High evapotranspiration is causing salinization
that is why 1 million hector of the world’s water has now become
saline. Bad agro managerial measures are primary causes of this crisis.
Pakistan has an agro based economy but the challenge that we face
is of food security, we now have a population of men and animals to
feed, we counter about 30% shortage of fodder for animals. Since most
of the land has become barren or saline, so availability of fresh
water is now a challenge. The best available option to deal with them
is the use of plants that grows here naturally, these plants are called
Halophytes.
The cutting edge technology that has been used
by our researchers can promote the production and utilization of Halophytes,
told Dr. Ajmal Khan in his introductory address. He further informed
that we have tested the halophytic grass and it gave us satisfactory
results, we are now on the verge of producing edible oils and Halo
diesel with the halophytes. While commenting on the standard of education
in the University Chairman, HEC said that Karachi University has now
been listed in world’s top Universities; the dilemma is that
higher education is available to only 4.6% individuals in Pakistan
which results in instable career which eventually leads to social
crimes and frustration in the society. He told that HEC is taking
measures, with the demography of the University, to increase this
number up to 10% by the year 2015 and up to 15% by the year 2020.
Government has got plans to increase the GDP by 7% by the year 2015.
Dean Faculty of Science, Prof. Dr. Shahana Urooj
Kazmi, also spoke on the occasion. The auspicious ceremony was attended
by members of the syndicate, faculty members and students.
