The renowned scholar and the former vice chancellor University of Karachi (KU) Professor Dr Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui launched the book entitled Dr A Q Khan: Contribution to Science Technology and Education on the first death anniversary of Mohsin-e-Pakistan late nuclear scientist, physicist, and metallurgical engineer Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan.
The book launching ceremony was held at the Jinnah Auditorium of the Dr A. Q. Khan Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering University of Karachi.
Professor Dr Pirzada Qasim mentioned that every Pakistani loves late Dr A. Q. Khan unconditionally as Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan used to love the motherland unconditionally. He informed the audience that Dr A. Q. Khan went to Europe to get advance studies in his prime age with a motive that he would return and serve his homeland.
“He could stay and enjoy his life in the west as many of Pakistani used to do, but from the day one he wants to work and do something for the country and he really make the Pakistan invincible”. Professor Dr Pirzada Qasim said that the whole nation would remain thankful to Dr A.Q. Khan for his contributions for the country.
He further said that without establishing knowledge-based society we cannot get international acknowledgement and the third world countries, the developing nations and countries like Pakistan has to adopt the culture of knowledge-based to survive.
According to Professor Dr Pirzada Qasim, Dr A.Q. Khan was keen to establish knowledge-based culture in the country and pushing the governments to lay down the foundation of science and technology based universities across the country till his last breath.
He mentioned that this is so unfortunate that education, research and development, science and technology, and health are not part of priorities of past and present governments.
The KU VC Professor Dr Khalid Mahmood Iraqi said that Dr A. Q. Khan was a visionary person and knows the art of establishing and promoting research institutes very well. The KU VC Professor Dr Khalid Iraqi mentioned that Dr A. Q. Khan faced a lot of hurdles in his life but never give-up and that is why he had achieved so many things in this life.
The KU VC Professor Dr Khalid Iraqi expressed that non-governmental organizations are doing welfare work, charities, and helping masses in difficult situations in the country which is supposed to be the responsibility of the governments which shows that governments have no interest in improving the conditions of the country.
On this occasion, Senator Abdul Haseeb Khan informed that audience that Dr A. Q. Khan had planned to produce cheapest electricity with the help of China in every city of Pakistan. After completing all necessary homework, he had submitted a file to the government to make electricity by using atomic technology which could have dropped the power tariff to Rs1 to Rs3 per unit.
Senator Abdul Haseeb said that if Dr A. Q. Khan work was implemented by the government then our manufacture and industry would be able to get the boost but unfortunately his planned was never considered.
Another speaker and well-known industrialist Mian Arshad Farooq highlighted the late Dr A. Q. Khan was a person with many specialty, and shifted his focus on health and education and charity work after successfully producing peaceful atomic technology for the country.
He quoted that Dr A.Q. Khan used to tell his late father that the amount spend upon Pakistani atomic achievement was less than the annual loss of the national flag carrier.
One of the co-author of the book Professor Dr Raza Shah shared that after the father of the nation Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Dr A.Q. Khan was most beloved personality of the country.
He said that he used to visit and talk to Dr A. Q. Khan on regular basis and the late nuclear physicist Dr A. Q. Khan always dream about the better and development of Pakistan. Professor Dr Raza Shah said that Dr A.Q. Khan was chosen by the Almighty Allah (SWT) for the country and he delivered for the secure future of his country fellow.
Earlier, the Director General KIBGE and the co-author of the book, Professor Dr Abid Azhar informed that this book aimed to introduce Dr A. Q. Khan role and achievement in the S&T and education sector. Dr Dina Khan the daughter of Dr A. Q. Khan and Dr Anwar Nasim shared their thoughts on the book through their recorded video messages from Islamabad and Canada.
