Experts echoed it at the inaugural session of international conference on ‘Surface Science: Innovations and Applications for Geoenvironmental Challenges’, organized by the Arsenic CARe Group of the Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, UAF. Chairing the session, UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Ashraf said that collaborated efforts were needed to address the issues at the national level. He said that according to World Health Organization, arsenic permissible limit is 10 parts per billion (ppb). Levels of arsenic in the groundwater of eastern Pakistan are alarmingly high. He said that surface science, especially applications of nanobiochar, nanobiocomposites, nanoparticles, and low cost biomaterials are prerequisite to provide solutions to environmental issues. He said that the conference would provide a unique opportunity for the scientists, practitioners, students, and all other stake holders to understand and explore the ‘surface science’ concepts and theory. Dr Javaid Akhtar, Director, Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences said that nutrient availability/transport, contaminant immobilization/release, nuclear waste fate in the Earth, and temporal changes in natural or human made materials, are the important geoenvironmental challenges. Dr Nabeel Niazi and Dr Irshad Bibi discussed that resolving these challenges is fundamentally important goal for food safety, and food security to feed the human race and save our planet earth. “These surface reactions affect a wide range of important earth and environmental processes and as such can help in selection of nanomaterials, biochar and biomaterials in environmental restoration and remediation processes, and in assessing ability of human made materials for appropriate disposal of nuclear waste. International experts from Germany, Prof Andreas Luttge, and Australia, Prof Balwant Singh discussed the new concepts and theories of Surface Science to resolve the geoenvironmental problems.
Experts at a seminar at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad on Thursday said that the ideology of Khudi has given a message of exploring inner capabilities, self-reliance, self-esteem, and excellence . They addressed a seminar on Khudi, ideology of Allama Iqbal at New Senate Hall, arranged by Character Building Society (CBS), Office of Senior Tutor, UAF. Renowned Scholar Dr Riaz Majeed urged the youth to develop the characteristics of Iqbal ka Shaheen to conquer the world with ability. His poetry is a beacon of hope and directions to move forward and take guidance with belief in Khudi. He said that Allama Iqbal pulled the Muslims out of ignorance and restlessness with his poetry and showed them right path to achieve independence. Motivational Speaker Muhammad Bashir Herl said that there is a great need to understand the ideas of Iqbal’s Pakistan. He said that the Iqbal was not just a universal poet but unmatchable philosopher, political leader and custodian of human ethics and values. He called for making the young generation aware of Iqbal’s philosophy. He added that there were some poets in the history who have had such a profound effect on people lives and political impact. Senior Tutor Dr Athar Javed stressed upon the need to understand and practice the message of the poet. He said: “Iqbal, the Poet of the East, inculcated the message of Islam and instilled a new revolutionary spirit among the people through his poetry and ideas in a befitting manner. Social worker Abdul Sattat Naeem said that according to Iqbal, it was prerequisite to get modern knowledge to compete with the globe. He urged the youth to follow the doctrine of Khudi (self-reliance) in their lives. President CBS Abdul Rafay also spoke on the occasion.