Please tell us about your educational background and your scientific achievements.
I completed a Masters in Botany from the Punjab University in 1957 and bagged a gold medal. Then I taught for two years at the Emerson College, Multan. After that, I joined the Government College, Lahore, and taught Botany there until 1962. Thereafter, I went to the Edinburgh University, Scotland, and did a PhD in biochemical genetics in 1966. After completing my doctorate, I moved to Canada and stayed there until 1989. During my career in Canada, I was simultaneously involved in research in Germany and the United States. From 1989 to 1993, I was associated with the King Faisal Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. I was there for four years. Then I returned to Pakistan where I worked as the executive secretary of the Pakistan Academy of Sciences for two years, and between 1996-2011, I was the science adviser for the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation’s Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation. The most recent development is that I have been elected as Secretary General of the Pakistan Academy of Sciences. This is a non-governmental organisation. I was also chairman of the Natural Commission on Biotechnology under the Science and Technology Ministry. Unfortunately, the commission was wrapped up by the government in 2009.
India, People’s Republic of China and other countries have made enormous progress in biotechnology and benefited immensely. Why has Pakistan lagged behind?
This is because the policies of the government in Pakistan are such that there is little emphasis on advances in science and technology, which is so crucial for economic development. What I wish to convey is that my passion has always been science and I have emphasised it in several of my earlier interviews. Unfortunately, this dream remains unfulfilled. Once again, in my capacity as the Secretary General of the Pakistan Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with my colleagues, we shall try our best to explore avenues for strengthening science and technology in the country. In genetic engineering, I have authored eight books and monographs. In addition to science, I also have a keen interest in Urdu literature. I have a collection of short stories in Urdu and a collection of humourous writings as well.
Why have we not been able to compete in science with India?
This is because science and technology has never been a national priority in Pakistan except for a few years when Professor Ataur Rahman was the Science and Technology minister.
Prof. Dr Anwar Nasim, Don’t you agree that primary and secondary education is much more important in countries like Pakistan rather than producing PhDs?
Primary and secondary education is equally important because elementary education provides the foundation for higher education. There can be no higher education without sound elementary education. There are many examples of self-made people in Pakistan who emerged from very poor backgrounds such as Professor Abdus Salam. I, too, hail from a poor village in Jhelum.
What about our science budget? Don’t you agree it’s very nominal?
Our science budget is dismal! It’s only 0.5 per cent of our budget allocations. It should be at least 2 per cent.
You have been working in the domain of biochemical genetics. What is your opinion about genetically modified organisms (GMOs)?
After devolution, there is no adequate infrastructure to provide regulatory guidelines for the release of GMOs.
The Environmental Protection Agency is still looking for some degree of stability and continuity.
And how do you view organics? There is a trend across the world to go for organics in preference to GMOs, despite the fact that the former are relatively expensive.
Options such as organics should be critically examined, and if found appropriate from the human health point of view, should be practiced. But to answer any of these questions, one needs a rich source of scientific expertise.
I completed a Masters in Botany from the Punjab University in 1957 and bagged a gold medal. Then I taught for two years at the Emerson College, Multan. After that, I joined the Government College, Lahore, and taught Botany there until 1962. Thereafter, I went to the Edinburgh University, Scotland, and did a PhD in biochemical genetics in 1966. After completing my doctorate, I moved to Canada and stayed there until 1989. During my career in Canada, I was simultaneously involved in research in Germany and the United States. From 1989 to 1993, I was associated with the King Faisal Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. I was there for four years. Then I returned to Pakistan where I worked as the executive secretary of the Pakistan Academy of Sciences for two years, and between 1996-2011, I was the science adviser for the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation’s Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation. The most recent development is that I have been elected as Secretary General of the Pakistan Academy of Sciences. This is a non-governmental organisation. I was also chairman of the Natural Commission on Biotechnology under the Science and Technology Ministry. Unfortunately, the commission was wrapped up by the government in 2009.
India, People’s Republic of China and other countries have made enormous progress in biotechnology and benefited immensely. Why has Pakistan lagged behind?
This is because the policies of the government in Pakistan are such that there is little emphasis on advances in science and technology, which is so crucial for economic development. What I wish to convey is that my passion has always been science and I have emphasised it in several of my earlier interviews. Unfortunately, this dream remains unfulfilled. Once again, in my capacity as the Secretary General of the Pakistan Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with my colleagues, we shall try our best to explore avenues for strengthening science and technology in the country. In genetic engineering, I have authored eight books and monographs. In addition to science, I also have a keen interest in Urdu literature. I have a collection of short stories in Urdu and a collection of humourous writings as well.
Why have we not been able to compete in science with India?
This is because science and technology has never been a national priority in Pakistan except for a few years when Professor Ataur Rahman was the Science and Technology minister.
Prof. Dr Anwar Nasim, Don’t you agree that primary and secondary education is much more important in countries like Pakistan rather than producing PhDs?
Primary and secondary education is equally important because elementary education provides the foundation for higher education. There can be no higher education without sound elementary education. There are many examples of self-made people in Pakistan who emerged from very poor backgrounds such as Professor Abdus Salam. I, too, hail from a poor village in Jhelum.
What about our science budget? Don’t you agree it’s very nominal?
Our science budget is dismal! It’s only 0.5 per cent of our budget allocations. It should be at least 2 per cent.
You have been working in the domain of biochemical genetics. What is your opinion about genetically modified organisms (GMOs)?
After devolution, there is no adequate infrastructure to provide regulatory guidelines for the release of GMOs.
The Environmental Protection Agency is still looking for some degree of stability and continuity.
And how do you view organics? There is a trend across the world to go for organics in preference to GMOs, despite the fact that the former are relatively expensive.
Options such as organics should be critically examined, and if found appropriate from the human health point of view, should be practiced. But to answer any of these questions, one needs a rich source of scientific expertise.
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