LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Higher Education Syed Raza Ali Gillani on Wednesday inaugurated the newly-established state-of-the-art research laboratories for research in coal technology, energy and environment engineering at Punjab University (PU) New Campus Centre for Coal Technology.
Punjab Higher Education Commission Chairman Professor Dr Nizamuddin, PU Vice Chancellor (VC) Professor Dr Zafar Moeen Nasir, Punjab Curriculum and Textbook Board Chairman Lieutenant General (r) Muhammad Akram Khan, University of Sargodha former vice chancellor Professor Dr Muhammad Akram Chaudhry, Punjab Education Foundation Chairman Engineer Qamarul Islam Raja, Member Punjab Assembly Dr Farzana Raja, Centre for Coal Technology Director Professor Dr Shahid Munir, deans, faculty members and a large number of students were also present on the occasion.
Under the expansion project for world-class research in coal, energy and environment engineering sector, seven new research laboratories equipped with latest research gadgets, pilot power plant, four new classrooms, conference room, PhD cluster room, faculty offices and computer labs have been established.
Addressing the ceremony, Gillani said that Pakistan was on the verge of taking off and the government had overpowered energy crisis faced by the country since 2013. He said that it was unfortunate that people were not aware of the country’s potential, adding that at least we should appreciate others who were doing a good job.
He said that we must utilise our resources so that the country could benefit from coal power. He further said that Pakistan had made rapid progress in a very short time and no one would be able to defeat China Pakistan Economic Corridor.
Moreover, Gillani said that a few neighboring countries were worried over rapid development in Pakistan. He said that terrorism had nothing to do with Islam and Pakistan. He advised the students not to get disappointed as they were full of talent. He also said that the youth would take the country forward and students must serve their country by excelling in their respective fields.
On the occasion, he announced honorarium for the faculty of Centre for Coal Technology. He said that such facilities would also be provided in other universities of the province.
In his address, Punjab Higher Education Commission Chairman Professor Dr Nizamuddin appreciated state-of-the-art coal research laboratories at Centre for Coal Technology and said that such meaningful research institutions were not in good numbers in the universities.
He said that the curriculum must be in line with existing technology, adding that it was necessary to promote entrepreneurship programmes and linkages with industry.
PU VC Professor Dr Zafar Moeen Nasir thanked Gillani for extending his support and patronage to PU administration in research projects. He said that Gillani also showed special interest in PU’s cotton project. He said that the university would organise a science fair soon.
Lieutenant General (r) Muhammad Akram said that we would have to rely on indigenous technology because of ban on exporting some specific technologies to the country by international powers.
He said that we must focus on generating power from Thar coal and shale gas. He also said that we must produce technologies and work on removing shortcomings in advancing indigenous technology. Conspiracies would also be hatched against Pakistani coal, he said, adding that we must promote national unity in our country.
Professor Dr Shahid Munir said that Centre for Coal Technology was the first institution in the country offering MSc and MS in Coal Technology and MSc in Energy and Environment Engineering.
He said that the latest equipment that PU Centre for Coal Technology had in its laboratories matched the standards of equipment in high-tech European laboratories. He further said that it was a big challenge to produce environment-friendly energy, adding that power generated from coal would meet future energy needs of the country. University of Sargodha former vice chancellor Dr Muhammad Akram Chaudhry, Dr Farzana Raja and Raja Qamarul Islam also spoke on the occasion.
