By Hifsa Raja

ISLAMABAD, July 27: The University of Tehran (UoT) will set up an information technology park in Islamabad to facilitate students, traders and investors, WealthPK reports.

During a meeting with Federal Minister for Science and Technology Agha Hassan Baloch, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Pakistan Seyyed Mohammad Ali Hosseini said that the UoT was eager to establish an information technology park in Islamabad.

The Ministry of Science and Technology also showed its eagerness to work with Iran, a founding member of the ECO Science Foundation (ECOSF). The Ministry lauded the efforts of the UoT.

Muhammad Jawad from the information technology department of the City University of Science and Technology told WealthPK that the UoT already had a well-equipped technology park.

“This technology park focuses mostly on the biotechnology, electronics, information communication technology, mechanics, micro machines and nanotechnology industries. One of the additional services is the office of technology transfer, which assists students with innovative ideas and connects them with industry and investors,” he said.

Muhammad Jawad said that the park also had a business clinic where professors and consultants provided help to businessmen, creative individuals and entrepreneurs in developing their goods and services and enhancing their business abilities. “The objective of establishing a technology park is to facilitate and inspire students to use technology for the benefit of humanity,” he added.

He said that Pakistan could benefit from the expertise of Iran in the field of science and technology. “We can enhance collaboration in this field of common interest. Iran is also a founding member of ECOSF, which helps in the promotion of technology,” he added.

Dr. Hafsa Hina, an assistant professor at the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), said that ECOSF was helping in the promotion of science, technology and innovations, based on economic development.

“The foundation has trained 1,000 science teachers in the member countries of the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) including 650 from Pakistan and 200 from Iran under its science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programme,” she said.

Dr. Hafsa said ECOSF had organised more than 200 conferences and training workshops under its capacity-building programme. She said that 1,470 Pakistanis participate in those conferences and training sessions. She added that ESOSF was also helping in improving the standard of the Pakistan Engineering Council.

“ECOSF, in collaboration with the Pakistan embassy in Beijing, trying to promote science education with the help of Beijing Technology and Business University and Children Youth and Science Centre of China,” she told WealthPK.

Credits: INP-WealthPk