Speakers here Friday paid tribute to Nobel Laureate Dr Abdus Salam for his services rendered in the field of science.
They said Prof Dr Salam played an important role in development of scientific and technical human resource of PAEC when the institution was emerging.
“His role in the creation of Pakistan’s space agency, SUPARCO, as well as PINSTECH, the `mother institute’ of PAEC will be remembered,” they said.
They were speaking at a function, organized by COMSTECH in collaboration with Pakistan Academy of Sciences (PAS) and National Centre for Physics (NCP), held in connection with 90th birth anniversary of the nobel laureate.
Coordinator General, COMSTECH, Dr Shaukat Hameed Khan, shed light on the scientific achievements of Dr Abdus Salam. Hameed traced his journey from a humble school in Jhang to his life in Government College Lahore and then his work in Cambridge and Imperial College, London.
While sharing memories of the late Prof Salam, he lamented the national neglect of Dr Salam and highlighted the extremely poor condition of his home, despite being declared a `National Monument’. He pleaded for its rehabilitation on an emergency basis.
Speaking on the occasion Dr Aslam Baig, Dr N.M. Butt and Dr Fayyazuddin highlighted the achievements and supportive role of Prof Salam played not in their own lives but also in the lives of several hundred young scientists and researchers belonging to Pakistan.
Dr Fayyazuddin gave an illuminating discourse on his research which led to his Noble Award and his attempt to understand symmetry and unification among the four fundamental forces of nature. He expressed disappointment at the neglect of science in Pakistan.
Chairman, Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), Muhammad Naeem, paid tributes to the scientific mettle and diverse personality of Prof Salam. The other speakers lauded his work in bridging the gap between the developed and developing countries, which led to creation of the
International centre of Theoretical Physics (ICTP), now named as the Abdus Salam International centre of Theoretical Physics. Nearly 170 theoretical and experimental physicists graced the occasion with their presence.
