President
Mamnoon Hussain on
Tuesday said the
Government accorded high priority to the study of science and technology and
despite limited resources, it would continue to patronize this vital area for a
brighter future of the country.
Addressing at 5th International
Conference on Aerospace Science & Engineering here at Institute of
Space Technology, the President said scientists had taken mankind into
space from the ages of stone and bronze and owing to hard work of such
talented people, mankind today had stepped into the virtual life through
cyber technology.
The President said the list of human
conquests was getting lengthier with the unfolding of mysteries of
this universe. He mentioned the philosophy of Poet of the East, Allama
Iqbal which pointed out that the journey of completion of this unfinished
universe was still long and researchers and scientists had much yet to
understand its secrets and mysteries.
The President said research was not
only an educational field but a way of life and urged the sincere
and determined scientists of the country to take up the challenges of the
new industrial era. He expressed satisfaction that Institute of Space
Technology (IST) and other national institutions of space research were
working on these grounds. He mentioned that launch of the country's first
satellite ‘Badr-1’ for space exploration in 1990 to ‘CubeSat’ in 2013 were part
of the same process.The President said the country's educational and research
institutions had demonstrated remarkable performance in these matters. He
said fourth position of IST in the ranking of national universities, establishment
of various Centres of Excellence in different fields of space research and
their excellent performance, were testament to this fact.
President Mamnoon expressed the
confidence that the projects, being initiated with the cooperation of other
countries and institutions would also be successful and the country’s
hardworking and intelligent scientists would succeed in these ventures. President
Mamnoon said over the last two decades, the field of space research had
witnessed unprecedented development and not only few particular developed
countries of the world but also some of Pakistan’s neighbours had also
made great strides in this area. He said with the beginning of the age of cyber
technology, rapid progress was also occurring not only in routine
life but also in business practices and modes of communication.
CONTINUE
PAGE 02
(2)
PR
No-104(2)
He emphasized that institutions
including IST and SUPARCO should broaden the scope of their research projects
and endeavor to find answers to new questions arising in different
sectors. The President said he was aware of the achievements of the last
generation of Pakistani scientists as well as of the eminent researchers
of this era and believed that with the blessings of Allah Almighty and by dint
of their hard work, they could achieve great accomplishments in these
matters. He said the country’s limited resources had always factored in our
educational and research activities but it was also a fact that despite
lack of resources, successive governments had always generously patronized
this field.
The President said it was heartening
that IST and other educational institutions enjoyed active and healthy
liaison with the world’s leading space exploration institutions. He
said the success of this international conference and educational activities on
space research were evident of the fact that Pakistan’s position was
going to become prominent on the educational map of the world. He said
when a nation’s scientists and researchers reach this stage of excellence on
the basis of their devotion and hard work, then shortage of resources
never become an impediment in their path. He hoped that the conference
would provide opportunities to learn from each other’s knowledge and
experiences and would also succeed in opening up new avenues of knowledge
through serious deliberations and educational debate.
Lieutenant Gen Sarfraz Sattar, Director
General, Strategic Plans Division, Maj. Gen. Qaiser Anis Khurram,
Chairman SUPARCO and Eng. Imran Rahman, Vice Chancellor, Institute of
Space Technology were present.
Vice Chancellor Engineer Imran Rehman
said development in science and technology and a nation's progress were
closely linked, adding Pakistani scientists were working hard to meet the
challenges, particularly in the area of space technology. He mentioned the
successful launch of a satellite by the students of the Institute of Space
Technology and said work was underway on several new project's. He said
one of the projects deals with monitoring of the air quality, and low cost
weather stations.
The Technical Chair and Dean of the
IST Dr Iqbal Masood said scientists, academicians and researchers from 16
countries were attending the conference that would discuss ten sub-themes in 65
different events over next three days. The President later visited an
exhibition of indigenously produced equipment and parts used in various space
research and development projects and appreciated the quality.
******
