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Education must for democracy to flourish: Prof Atta

By Our Staff Reporter 2017-09-23
KARACHI: A true democracy can never flourish in the country owing to low level of literacy, a feudal stranglehold and corrupt election process.

Prof Atta-ur-Rahman said this while delivering a special lecture at a Science Day held at the Karachi University`s International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS) on Friday, held in the Prof Salimuzzaman Siddiqui Auditorium.

He regretted: `It is a sad reality that the worst military regimes in Pakistan have fared better in terms of economic growth than the best democracies that we have witnessed,` he observed.

Only countries investing in their youth were moving forward in this knowledgedriven world whereas others were being left far, far behind, he added.

He urged students to have a real thirst for knowledge and try to live for others.

`There is a dire need to create a sprit among students to take a stand if they see anything wrong,` he said.

The activities of the day, which kept visitors engaged the whole day, included special lectures on various aspects of science, an interactive scientific exhibition, visits to science labs and screening of easy-to-understand videos related to chemistry and biology.

Later at another lecture, he spoke on how science was benefitting mankind in many different ways.

Earlier, Prof Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary, director the ICCBS, recalled Prof Ataur-Rahman`s services and contribution to science.

`Prof Rahman`s scientific contribution are internationally recognised and widely appreciated. He has been actively involved in the development of new medicinal agents and synthesis of several hundred natural products. As a minister, he made great efforts to promote higher education, information technology and telecom,` he said.

Visitors to the events included many international students, especially from Cameron, Nigeria, Nepal, Iran, Turkey and Sri Lanka, who showed great interest in the exhibits on display.

The event attracted a large number of students, teachers and researchers.