RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: The first joint laboratory for innovation in natural products research and development, established by Kazakhstan and Pakistan, was inaugurated at the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi on Tuesday.

HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry of ICCBS - University of Karachi and Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, Kazakhstan jointly setup this latest laboratory entitled, ‘Pak-Kazakh Joint Laboratory for Innovation in Natural Products Research and Development.’

University of Karachi Vice Chancellor Prof Muhammad Ajmal Khan unveiled the plaque at the state-of-the-art laboratory, which is setup in the Prof Wolfgang Voelter Laboratories Complex of the ICCBS.

Dr Muhammad Ajmal Khan also delivered an opening speech in the inaugural ceremony of Pak-Kazakh Joint Laboratory, held at the Prof Salimuzzaman Siddiqui Auditorium (ICCBS).

Prof Tlekkabul Ramazanov, Vice-Rector of Science and Innovations, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Kazakhstan, Prof Zharylkassyn Abilov, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Tajammul Hussain, Adviser (Programs) COMSATS, Prof Tabassum Mehboob, Dean Faculty of Sciences - University of Karachi, ICCBS Director Prof Muhammad Iqbal Chaudhry, Chairman Husein Ebrahim Jamal Foundation Aziz Latif Jamal and other officials also expressed their views on the occasion.

The ceremony was followed by a signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ICCBS - University of Karachi and Al-Farabi Kazakh National, University.

Speaking at the ceremony, Prof Ajmal Khan applauded the efforts made by the international centre to collaborate with the leading institutions of Kazakhstan. He said more international collaborations in the field of natural product chemistry and science were essential for the progress of science and technology in the country.

Prof Iqbal Chaudhry told media that for this project Kazakhstan received around Rs 42 million from Islamic Development Bank (IDB). He maintained that some amount from the total will be spent at the international centre on account of hosting Kazakh students in the centre.

Talking about mutual science cooperation, he informed the participants that as many as 50 young scholars from Kazakhstan had visited the international centre to pursue their training programmes.

He told the ceremony that Aziz Latif Jamal and his foundation ‘Husein Ebrahim Jamal Foundation’ continued their patronage to the institute. The foundation, under the leadership of Aziz Latif Jamal, is constructing a state-of-the-art LEJ Nano-chemistry Center building at the international centre, he said.

Prof Tlekkabul Ramazanov said setting up a joint laboratory at the ICCBS was nothing but a developmental milestone for Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. He appreciated the efforts of ICCBS in term of imparting research training to Kazakh students.

Aziz Latif Jamal said Husein Ebrahim Jamal (HEJ) Research Institute of Chemistry during the last five decades has achieved a number of milestones and remains at the pinnacle of excellence and sustained growth. He said the institute had the single largest doctoral program in the country with over 350 PhD students.

Prof Zharylkassyn Abilov said this science collaboration between ICCBS and Al-Farabi Kazakh National University was almost 20 years old. Pakistani are hospitable nation, he said.