KARACHI - Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary, Director of the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi, and COMSTECH Coordinator General, on Tuesday said that the ICCBS was purely the academic research institution with the primary mission to train scholars at the post-graduate levels (M.Phil. /Ph.D.).
He categorically refuted the claim that ICCBS - University of Karachi was established for the discovery and development of drugs, and said that this academic international center had trained thousands of scholars, who were now serving in industries and academic institutions all around the globe.
He was speaking at the meeting held at the international center. The meeting was well attended by the officials and scholars of the center.
Prof. Iqbal Choudhary said, “The fact is that ICCBS - University of Karachi comprises three institutions, including H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, and Third World Center for Chemical Technology. Two of them were established from the private sector donation. These are the academic research institutions with the primary mission to train scholars at the post-graduate levels.”
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It is unfortunate that some people are writing against this world-class institution and trying to malign an institution that is the recognition of Pakistan in the world of science, he said.
He told the meeting that the center was recognized for its high-quality research reflected from the fact that the works of the scientists and scholars had been cited over 300,000 times in the last five years. The academic and research contributions of the center are openly presented on its website (www.iccs.edu), he said, adding that this center has triple recognition of UNESCO Center of Excellence, WHO Collaborating Center, and OIC Center of Excellence.
A large number of foreign scholars are visiting the center for training, including from western countries, he said. Along with academic excellence, this institution is also serving the pharmaceutical, chemical, and food industries through Industrial Analytical Center, the Center for Bioequivalence Studies and Clinical Research, as well as Sindh Forensic DNA Laboratory, he said.
The Center has played a very important role in the national flight against COVID-19, he said, and maintained that the National Institute of Virology, the only institute in the field of viral diseases, has conducted over 0.35 million COVID tests, monitored the genome sequencing of delta variants.
He said, “These institutions are regularly audited by the relevant audit authorities, and represent the best examples of prudent financial management.”
These institutions are truly regarded as national assets and deserve to be appreciated by true academicians, he added.