ISLAMABAD: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) organised a consultative meeting on Friday to discuss the establishment of China-Pakistan Joint Research Centre in Earth Sciences, in collaboration with Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), at a Pakistani university.
The meeting was presided over by HEC Chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmed and attended by senior management, representatives of Ministry of Science and Technology, Quaid-e-Azam University, University of Peshawar, and various other universities, as well as China Science and Technology Division Vice Director Dr Yonnggong GE, Professor Su Iijun from the CAS Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, and other stakeholders.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Mukhtar Ahmed assured the Chinese delegation from CAS that the Government of Pakistan and HEC would extend all-out cooperation to their Chinese partner in setting up the centre. He stressed the need for developing a task force for mutual coordination so as to finalise viability of the centre.
Dr Mukhtar said that centres of excellence in Pakistan would also be made a part of this endeavour in order to benefit from the experience of China. Informing participants that the proposed centre would be an autonomous entity, he said the two sides would work on the modalities and share formal documents for practical measures.
The HEC chairman also said that the research centre would be established in the federal capital, which would benefit ongoing CPEC-related projects, institutes, universities and organisations.
The China-Pakistan Joint Research Centre in Earth Sciences would work on research content, including risk analysis and reduction of natural hazards, to ensure the safety of CPEC construction. The centre would conduct research on issues pertaining to earth sciences in the areas adjoining the Himalaya, the Hindu Kush, and Karakorum ranges.
The meeting also deliberated the role of proposed centre in dealing with key scientific issues, including environment data collection, mining under complex topography, climate change, water environment, rational utilisation of water resources, tectonic movement and its effects on resources and hazards, mechanisms of earth surface natural hazards and risk control, and fragile ecosystem and recovery.
