Staff Reporter Fakhr-e-Pakistan and the noted nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan has urged students to gain education for knowledge but not for the sake of getting degrees only. He advised that the youngsters should realize the importance of education and must realize that they would not be able to do anything in their lives without education. He warned that there is no future for the people who ignored education in their lives. The scientist was addressing as the chief guest on the last day of four-day long fifth Dr A Q Khan Winter School Workshop, which was held at the Dr A Q Khan Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (KIBGE), University of Karachi. “Rather spending five years in the universities to get the degrees and cram in the syllabus, students should work hard and besides learning the theories should spend sufficient time in the laboratories to learn how to operate different tools. Students should also focus on conducting valuable research and learn from the experiences of their teachers and colleagues and seniors.” He shared that KIBGE is providing all necessary facilities required to conduct quality research and its lab are equipped with modern tools and technologies. Dr A Q Khan said that he always feel pleasure to see faces of young researchers and scholars at the KIBGE. He informed the audience that people used to ask him frequently to do something for the city and its youngsters, so he decided to build KIBGE which is providing the highest standard of education to the students of the whole country. He advised the students that after completing their MPhil from the Institute should go abroad and take admissions in PhD and those who have done their PhDs must do post doctorate from foreign universities and then return to Pakistan to serve the beloved motherland. Dr A Q Khan suggested that young researchers and scholars gain knowledge and information from the experienced faculty of KIBGE and utilities what they have learned from this Institute in their practical lives so that the country could benefit from them. He also advised that researchers must equip themselves with the latest information and seek perfection in doing research. Meanwhile, the KU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Khalid Mahmood Iraqi, informed that the audience that Karachi University has given admissions to over 10, 000 students in different programs being run in morning and evening shifts this year. He said that the University of Karachi has more than 19 institutes and research centers in the campus including the KIBGE and they are contributing a lot in promoting the research culture in academia. He further said that students and young researchers are quite lucky to get admission in the University. The KU VC Professor Dr Khalid Iraqi congratulated the researchers on completion of their workshop and said that he hoped students have taken the advantage by interacting with seasoned trainers and by doing on-hand work in the labs which are equipped with the latest tools and technologies. He advised them to share what they have learned from the workshop with others and keep participating in such programs. He mentioned that these events provide a lot of facilities under one roof and also give a chance of networking with the field professionals. Earlier, the Director General, KIBGE, KU, Professor Dr Abid Azhar, shared that this Institute provides equal opportunity to students across the country and the whole faculty is so proud that our students are performing extraordinarily around the world. The KU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Khalid Iraqi distributed the certificates among the participants. Later, the computerized draws for Umrah and Hajj were also conducted by Dr A Q Khan in which Ghulam Fareed Gabool was selected for Hajj while Muhammad Hussain and Dr Sitwat Zehra were selected for Umrah.
