Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman Gold Medal-2012 - Pakistan Academy of Sciences

NewsLetterPAKISTAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCESPromoting Science, Technology and Innovation for Socio-economic DevelopmentJanuary 2013Volume 8, No. 1Inside This IssueNew Council of the Pakistan Academy of SciencesInduction of Fellows Elected during 2011 & New Fellows Elected during 2012PAS Gold Medals, Prizes and Certificate conferred during 2012Malaysian University will set up a Research Institute to Honour Prof. Dr. Atta-ur-RahmanObituaries of Prof. Dr. G. M. Khattak and Dr. Iqbal Hussain QureshiEnergy Report launched byPakistan Academy of SciencesPresidentProf. Dr. Atta-ur-RahmanFRS, NI, HI, SI, TISecretary GeneralDr. Anwar NasimSITreasurerDr. N. M. ButtSIEditorDr. Abdul RashidFellows of PAS maysubmit news and viewsonline or by Email to:Editor-in-ChiefPakistan Academy ofSciences3-Constitution Avenue,G-5/2, Islamabad,PakistanEmail:pas.editor@gmail.comTel:(+92 51) 920-7140Web: www.paspk.orgSustainable and affordable energy the history of Pakistan and their impact onsupply is necessary for the sociooutlinesenergy situation in the country. The Reporteconomic development of a country. Theshort-term and long-term solutionssevere energy shortage faced by Pakistan and measures for combating the energyin present times has resulted in serious crisis – by providing adequate energy forchallenges, including power and gas domestic as well as industrial use atload-shedding, price hikes, foodaffordable cost.The Energy Report was formallyshortages, unemployment, and law andlaunched by the Pakistan Academy oforder deterioration, resulting in reducedSciences on 31 December, 2012 in ainvestment in every sector of theceremony in Islamabad which waseconomy.participated by a large number ofIn this scenario, the Pakistan stakeholders. Dr. Asim Hussain, Adviser forAcademy of Sciences has prepared a Petroleum and Natural Resources,comprehensive, but crisp and clear, Government of Pakistan, was chief guest onEnergy Report, entitled "Pakistan's the occasion. The event was presided overE n e rg y C r i s i s - Re commended by Prof. Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman, FRS, President,Solutions". The Report, prepared under Pakistan Academy of Sciences. While sharingthe able leadership of Dr. M. Akram salients of the Report, Prof. Atta-ur-RahmanSheikh, former Deputy Chairman, stressed upon the Government to addressPlanning Commission, Government of the energy crisis on war footing basis. ThePakistan, in consultation with key chief guest assured the audience that thestakeholders in the country, reviews Government will give due consideration tonotable energy-related events through the recommendations in the Report.

New Council of the Pakistan Academy of SciencesThe elected office bearers of the Pakistan Academy of Sciences for the term 2013–2014 are:President:Prof. Dr. Atta-ur-RahmanFRS, NI, HI, SI, TIVice President:Prof. Dr. M. Qasim JanHI, SI, TIVice President:Prof. Dr. M. D. ShamiSISecretary General:Dr. Anwar NasimSIAssociate SecretaryGeneral:Prof. Dr. Tasawar HayatSI, TITreasurer:Dr. N. M. ButtSISecretaryLahore Chapter:Prof. Dr. Kauser AbdullaMalikHI, SI, TISecretaryKarachi Chapter:Prof. Dr. Bina ShaheenSiddiquiSI, TISecretaryPeshawar Chapter:Dr. Mohammad Asif KhanTIMember:Prof. Dr. M. Aslam BaigHI, SI, TIMember:Prof. Dr. Ikramul HaqSI2Member:Prof. Dr. Khalid MahmoodKhanSIMember:Prof. Dr. Abdul RaufShakooriTI

Induction of Fellows Elected during the Year 2011The Following two eminent scientists, elected asFellows of the Academy during the year 2011,were formally inducted and given medallionsand certificates by the President, PAS,Dr. Muhammad Iqbal, TIDirector General,Centre for Applied Molecular Biology,87-West Canal Bank Road,Thokar Niaz Baig, Lahore-53700Prof. Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman, during the GeneralBody Meeting held on December 5, 2012. Theinducted Fellows signed the Charter Book of theP ak is ta n Ac ade my of Sciences.Dr. Rumina HasanProfessor,Deptt. of Pathology & Microbiology,The Aga Khan University,KarachiDr. Muhammad Iqbalreceiving his medallions fromthe President, PASDr. Rumina Hasanreceiving her medallions fromthe President, PASNew Fellows and Members Elected during 2012The following eminent scientists were elected PAS Fellows and Members during the year 2012:Fellows:Prof. Dr. Masoom Yasinzai, Vice Chancellor, Quaid-i-Azam University, IslamabadProf. Dr. Farhat Abbas, Dean, Medical College, Aga Khan University, PO Box 3500, Stadium Road, KarachiProf. Dr. Saqib Ali, Chairman, Department of Chemistry, Quaid-i-Azam University, IslamabadDr. Hamid Saleem, Director General, National Centre for Physics, Quaid-i-Azam University Campus, IslamabadDr. M. Akram Sheikh, House No. 1, Street No, 52, F-8/4, IslamabadForeign Fellow:Prof. Dr. Peter Langer, Head of Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Rostock, GermanyMembers:Dr. Muhammad Sayyab, National Centre of Excellence in Geology, University of Peshawar, PeshawarDr. Sohail Nadeem, Department of Mathematics, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad3

PAS Gold Medals, Prizes and Certificatesconferred during 2012The following scientists were awarded Gold Medals, Cash Prizes and Certificates by the President PAS,Prof. Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman, during the PAS General Body Meeting on December 5, 2012:PAS Gold Medal 2012 in Botany:Dr. Muhammad Zafar, Department ofPlant Sciences, Faculty of BiologicalSciences, Quaid-i-Azam University,IslamabadPAS Gold Medal 2012 in Chemistry:Dr. Farzana Shaheen,Assistant Professor,H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry,International Center for Chemical andBiological Sciences, University of Karachi,KarachiPAS Gold Medal 2012 in Earth Sciences:Dr. Muhammad Arif,Professor, Department of Geology,University of Peshawar, PeshawarPAS Gold Medal 2012 in Mathematics:Dr. Ghulam Shabbir,Associate Professor, GIK Institute ofEngineering Sciences & Technology,Topi, Swabi, KPKPAS Gold Medal 2012 in Physics:Dr. Javed Iqbal Akhter,Chief Scientist/Director Science,Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science &Technology, P.O. Nilore, Islamabad4

Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman Gold Medal-2012The Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman Gold Medal in Chemistryfor the year 2012 was won by Dr. Basit Yameen,Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry,LUMS, School of Sciences and Engineering, Lahore.The Award consisted of a Gold Medal, a Certificateand Cash Prize of Rs. 35000/-Dr. Raziuddin Siddiqi Prize-2012 in ChemistryThe Dr. Raziuddin Siddiqi Prize in Chemistry for theyear 2012 was won by Dr. Hassan Imran Afridi,Lecturer, National Centre of Excellence in AnalyticalChemistry, University of Sindh, Jamshoro.The Prizeconsisted of a Gold Medal, a Certificate and CashPrize of Rs. 35000/-Abdus Salam Prize in Basic Sciences-2011in ChemistryThe TWAS Abdus Salam Prize in Chemistry for theyear 2011 was won by Dr. Zia ur Rahman, AssistantProfessor, Department of Chemistry, Quaid-i-AzamUniversity, Islamabad. The Prize consisted ofCertificate and Cash Prize of US $ 2,000/-.Salimuzzaman Siddiqui Prize inApplied Science & Technology-2011 in Agricultural SciencesThe TWAS Salimuzzaman Siddiqi Prize in AppliedScience-Technology for the year 2011 in the field ofAgricultural Sciences was won by Dr. Mehboob urRehman, NIBGE, Faisalabad. The Prize consisted ofa Certificate and Cash Prize of US $ 1,000/-.5

Abdus Salam Prize in Science-2012in MathematicsThe TWAS Abdus Salam Prize in Applied Science-Technology for the year 2011 in the field ofMathematics was won by Dr. Sohail Nadeem,Associate Professor, Department of Mathematics,Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad. The Prizeconsisted of a Certificate and Cash Prize of US $2,000/-Dr. Shah Jahan Prize-2012 in BotanyThe Dr. Raziuddin Siddiqi Prize in Chemistry for the year 2012 was won by Dr. Nudrat Aisha Akram, AssistantProfessor, Department of Botany, GC University, Faisalabad. The Prize consisted of a Gold Medal, a Certificateand Cash Prize of Rs. 35000/- She could not attend the ceremony.PAS Travel GrantsThe Pakistan Academy of Sciences (PAS) provided travel grants to the following Fellows/Members tofacilitate their participation in International Conferences/Seminars:S.No.TitleParticipant1.2.27th Himalaya-Karakoram-Tibet (HKT)Workshop, 28-30 November, 2012Kathmandu, NepalAnnual Sessions of the Sri LankaAssociation for the Advancement ofScience, December 10, 2012Dr. Mona LisaProf. Dr. M. Zafar IqbalThe following Research Grant was awarded by PAS:PAS Research GrantTitle Principal Investigator Cost (Million Rs.)Endophytes of Invasive andResistant Plants as an Dr. Zabta Khan Shinwari 3.990Alternative Means ofGrowth Promotion andYield Enhancement ofMajor Crops6

A Top Malaysian University will set up a Research Institute tohonour Prof. Dr. Atta-ur-RahmanThe “Atta-ur-Rahman Institute of Natural Product Pakistan which are NUST, COMSATS, the UniversityDiscovery (RiND)” will be inaugurated at the of Bahawlpur and International Center forUniversity of Teknologi Mara (UiTM), Malaysia on Chemical and Applied Biosciences at KarachiMarch 4, 2013, during an International Conference University.on Natural Products, where Prof. Dr. Atta-ur- Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman, a Fellow of Royal Society,Rahman is being invited as a guest of honour to has contributed 900 research publications at thedeliver the keynote speech for the “Jack Cannon international level which include 116 books largelyLecture”.published by major US and European presses andThe UiTM had awarded Prof. Dr. Atta-ur- 21 international patents. He is the Editor-in-Chief ofRahman an honorary doctorate degree in 2011 and 12 European Chemistry journals while 76 studentsRiND is another accolade for the scientist.have completed their PhD degrees under hisThe decision to establish the Institute was supervision.announced in March 2011 by UiTM’s Vice Prof. Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman is the only scientistChancellor, Prof Dr Sahol Hamid Abu Bakar, at from the Muslim world to have won the prestigiousInternational Center for Chemical and Biological UNESCO Science Prize in 1999 and was conferredSciences (ICCBS), Karachi University.with the TWAS Prize for Institution Building inDurban, South Africa in October 2009. The AustrianPak-Malaysia Collaborationgovernment also honoured him with its highest civilUiTM is already planning for joint projects with award (“Grosse Goldene Ehrenzeischen amPakistan’s leading institutes and in this regard the Bande”) in 2007.Rectors of National University of Science and Successive Governments of Pakistan haveTechnology (NUST) and Commission on Science and conferred four civil awards, Tamgha-i-ImtiazTechnology for Sustainable Development in the (1983), Sitara-i-Imtiaz (1991), Hilal-i-Imtiaz (1998),South (COMSATS) will sign MoUs while attending and the highest national civil award Nishan-i-Imtiazthe International Conference on Natural Products (2002). He is President of Network of Academies ofin Malaysia.Sciences of Islamic Countries (NASIC) and theA formal Memorandum of Understanding will Regional Vice-President of TWAS and is currentlybe signed on the occasion between the Universiti the President of the Pakistan Academy of Sciences.Teknologi Mara in Malaysia with four institutions inProf. Dr. Atta-ur-Rehman is receiving a shield from former Vice Chancellor of KarachiUniversity, Dr Pirzada Qasim.7

University of Leicester offers Prof. Dr. Qasim JanHonorary Degree of Doctor of ScienceThe University of Leicester, UK has offered theHonorary Degree of Doctor of Science to Prof. Dr.M. Qasim Jan, HI for his contributions to geologicalscience and science administration. He will receivethe degree in the July 2013 convocation of theUniversity.The readers may be interested to know thatProf. Dr. Qasim Jan has also received an HonoraryDegree of DSc from King's College, London in 2009.Dr. G. Sarwar Gilani earnsThe Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medaland Fakhar-e-Pakistan AwardDr. G. Sarwar Gilani, a Foreign Fellow of PAS, hasbeen conferred a very prestigious award, “TheQueen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal” by theGovernment of Ontario.The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medalwas created to mark the 60th anniversary of HerMajesty's accession to the throne and is a tangibleway for Canada to honour Her Majesty for herservices to this country. At the same time, it servesto honour outstanding Ontarians, for theirdedicated service to their peers, community andprovince.For the past 38 years, Dr. G. Sarwar Gilani hasbeen an exemplary community worker, promotingcross-cultural understanding of Pakistani heritageand Islamic culture and implementing theprinciples of racial equality among Canadians and inCanadian institutions.To celebrate his remarkable contributions toCanada and Pakistan, the executive council of theCanada-Pakistan Association of the NationalCapital Region, presented the Fakahar-e-PakistanAward to Dr. G. Sarwar Gilani.Dr. G. Sarwar Gilani receiving theQueen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee MedalDr. G. Sarwar Gilani receiving theFakahar-e-Pakistan Award8

Second National Phycological Conference“Algae for Mankind”Prof. Dr. Mustafa Shameel organized Second presentations and several models were displayed inNational Phycological Conference under the title an exhibition, where different products made from“Algae for Mankind” at Department of Botany, algae were also exhibited and a variety of dishesUniversity of Karachi during 15-17 October, 2012. prepared from seaweeds by the students were atThe Conference was inaugurated by Prof. Dr. the disposal of the participants to taste. In theMuhammad Qaiser, Vice-Chancellor of the closing session, phycologists made valuableUniversity. Phycologists were invited from suggestions, expressed their opinion for thePeshawar, Islamabad, Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, improvement of techniques and methodologies andQuetta, Jamshoro and different universities, discussed their research problems. On the 3rd day, ainstitutes, colleges and research organizations of full day excursion trip was made initially to the shoreKarachi. During 1st two days 3 plenary lectures and of Sandspit to visit WWF Wetland Centre in the34 oral presentations were delivered in 6 technical midst of mangroves and then to the seacoast ofs e s s i o n s o n f re s h w a t e r a l ga e , m a r i n e Goth Haji Ali at Buleji to witness the growth ofphytoplankton, seaweeds, marine fungi and seaweeds in nature.nematodes and mangroves. Also, five posterR to L: Dr. Ehsan Elahi Valeem, Dr. Muhammad Afzal Rizvi, Dr. Muhammad Javed Zaki, Dr. Mudassir Asrar,Dr. Aliya Rehman, Dr. Muhammad Qaiser (VC), Dr. Moinuddin Ahmad, Dr. Mustafa Shameel, Dr. GhazalaYasmeen Butt, Dr. S. M. Saifullah, Mr. Masud-ul-Hasan, and Dr. Shahida HasnainFinland and South Korea Top the Learning CurveAccording to the Learning Curve report, whichincludes tertiary graduation rates in its methodology,the UK sits sixth in the list of education superpowers,behind Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore. The USAranked 17.The global study, carried out by the EconomistIntelligence Unit and published by Pearson, draws onexisting data from international organizations, as wellas figures on literacy rates, school attendance, anduniversity graduation rates.In the education attainment category, which isbased solely on literacy and graduation rates fromboth school and higher education institutions, the UKjumps to second overall, behind South Korea. Finland,Poland and Ireland complete the top five.The report suggests that promoting a culture thatis supportive of education is more important than theamount of money invested, while high-qualityteaching is seen as the most crucial factor in securinggood educational outcomes.In the study, Robert Schwartz, Francisa Keppelprofessor of practice in educational policy andadministration at the Harvard Graduate School ofEducation, criticizes some countries for tailoring theireducation system too strongly towards producingtertiary graduatesSource: Pick of the Week, Islamic World Academy of SciencesCourtesy: Prof. Dr. M. D. Shami9

Obituary: Prof. Dr. G. M. KhattakDecember 13, 2012 brought the sad news of the demiseof Dr. G. M. Khattak, one of Pakistan's most respectedintellectuals, natural scientists and educationists. Dr.Khattak was born on January 3, 1924, at Nushki,Balochistan. He obtained BSc in 1943 from IslamiaCollege, Peshawar, and MS (1966) & PhD (1967) inForestry from Michigan State University, USA.Dr. Khattak served the Pakistan Forest Institute,Peshawar in different capacities, including ChiefConservator of Forests and Director General. Also, heserved as Vice Chancellor of University of Peshawar andUniversity of Agriculture, Peshawar, and as Chairman,University Grants Commission. He was also engaged asConsultant, Sustainable Development of RenewableResources.Dr. Khattak was elected as Fellow of PakistanAcademy of Sciences in 1977. His services for highereducation, natural sciences (especially Forestry) andenvironmental conservation were acknowledged by theGovernment of Pakistan through the award of Sitara-i-Imtiaz (2001). He has left behind a widow, a son and twodaughters. May his soul rest in peace! Ameen.Obituary: Dr. Iqbal Hussain QureshiDr. Iqbal Hussain Qureshi expired peacefully inKarachi on 8th December 2012. He was born in Ajmer(former British India) on 27 September, 1936, and afterthe creation of Pakistan he migrated to Hyderabad,Sindh. He obtained BSc in 1956 and MSc in 1958(Chemistry) from University of Sindh, with Gold Medals,MS from University of Michigan in 1962 and PhD in 1963from University of Tokyo, Japan.Dr. Qureshi spent most of his career atPINSTECH,Islamabad, where he finally served as itsDirector. In 1991, he was appointed as Member(Technical), Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission. Later,he was promoted to the rank of Senior Member andretired in 1996. He was given the life honour by PAEC asits Scientist Emeritus.Dr. Qureshi had earned several scientific honours:Gold Medal of Pakistan Academy of Sciences in 1988;Fellowship of Pakistan Academy of Sciences in 1994;Khawarizmi Prize of Iran in 1997; Sitar-i-Imtiaz in 1992;and Shield of Honour by Pakistan Nuclear Society ofwhich he served as elected President.He has left behind a widow and two talented sons.May God bless him with a peaceful place in Heaven.Ameen.10Composed by: Engr. Adnan Bashir