Workshop on Bio-ethics education: Necessity not Luxury, held by COMSTECH

March 29, 2008 - PRLog -- (Islamabad)            Workshop on Bio-ethics education: Necessity not Luxury organized by OIC Standing Committee for Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) was held here today at COMSTECH Secretariat building in Islamabad, Pakistan.

Speaking on the occasion as Chief Guest, Prof. Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman, the Coordinator General COMSTECH and Chairman HEC said, “We need quality minds and committed professionals for advancement in science and technology and it is possible only when we commit resources for this purpose. He said that five years ago only 800 million Rupees were available for higher education and the amount now was 18 billion Rupees.” 80 per cent of this money was being spent for human resource development; training of scientist, researchers and educators was the main part of HR development efforts.” Results of our investment in education and science & technology have began to come as the trained professionals have started coming back to Pakistan. This trained manpower has started to contribute for national development. From 23 universities we have marched to have more than 500 universities in Pakistan and I wish the same for all OIC member states. To realize this dream across the OIC region, COMSTECH is striving hard and this workshop is part of the COMSTECH program for science and technology development in all member states of Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC), he said. He informed the gathering that Higher Education Commission of Pakistan had also started international lecturing program through video conferencing. After USA, Pakistan was the first country where students have access to e-lectures and books.

Dr. Farhat Moazzam, from Center of Bio-Medical Ethics and Culture of Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation, Karachi spoke on kidney trade in Pakistan and stressed on the need for strictest implementation of laws as she was of the view that kidney trafficking was still being practiced even after promulgation of Ordinance 2007 for its prohibition. She said that, “ it is our collective and social responsibility to stop kidney trafficking as kidney commerce violates human dignity, converts human organs into commodities and casts very negative effects on the esteem of medical profession.”

Earlier the ceremony started with introduction of the topic by Dr. Anwar Nasim, Advisor COMSTECH. He said, “This program is part of COMSTECH thematic workshop series and is designed to develop specialized skills and professionals in OIC member states. A video conference lecture on the topic was arranged by COMSTECH. The lecture was delivered by Dr. Sahin Aksoy from Harren University, Turkey.

Dr. Darrel Macer, from UNESCO, Bangkok also spoke on the occasion and gave an introduction of UNESCO programs related to the topic. The COMSTECH workshop was organized in collaboration with Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, CBEC, Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation. The workshop will continue for three days in which speakers from different countries shall deliver lectures.
 
Ameen Amjad
PR Manager
Tel: +92-51-9220681
Cell: +92-300-956-8889
ameen.amjad@comstech.org

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COMSTECH is ministerial standing committee of Organisation of Islamic Conference working for science and technology across OIC region. It has its head office in Pakistan.

Website: www.comstech.org