STAFF REPORT IBD: Pakistan Council for Science and Technology (PCST) and National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) have signed an MoU to establish a much needed National Analytical Lab for Substances of Abuse.
Speaking on the occasion, Rector NUST highlighted how the Atta ur Rahman School of Applied Bio-Sciences (ASAB) has grown into a centre of excellence where highly qualified researchers are working on numerous research projects of national importance and where the proposed lab would be established by the end of 2012.
Principal ASAB Dr Ashraf and Dr Sadaf Zaidi gave presentation on salient features of the school. ASAB is a rare national facility which focuses on advancement of healthcare, Industrial and agriculture bio-technology.
The facility could do dope, alcohol, steroid, marijuana, hashish or heroin testing. Chairperson PCST Dr Mudassir Asrar highlighted the importance of this venture and explained how it would enhance our national capability. She pointed out alarmingly that annually 100,000 new drug users are being added to our society and it called for attention at national level.
In his remarks, Secretary Ministry of Science and Technology, Akhlaq Ahmad Tarar, appreciated this initiative and hoped that the agreement would render a useful service to the nation in particular and to the mankind in general.