KARACHI: Financial transparency in the administrative matters at the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi is unquestionable, as all institutions working under the umbrella of the ICCBS – University of Karachi are regularly audited by the relevant audit authorities, and represent the best examples of prudent financial management.
Similarly, the top foreign scientists routinely carry out performance audits and evaluations of the centre.
The ICCBS – the University of Karachi is an academic research institution that is genuinely regarded as a national asset and deserves to be appreciated by actual academics. However, some people intentionally or unintentionally are trying to discredit the country’s leading academic institutions having international stature, which is really a matter of concern for every Pakistani.
Prof Dr M. Iqbal Choudhary, Director of the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, and COMSTECH Coordinator-General, expressed these views while speaking at a press conference held at the ICCBS – the University of Karachi.
Prof Iqbal Choudhary said that the ICCBS was an academic research institution with the sole mission to train and educate scholars at the post-graduate levels (M.Phil. /PhD). He said, “The ICCBS comprises three institutions, including H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, Dr Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, and Third World Center for Chemical Technology. Two of them were established from the private sector donation.”
The centre has been able to win international and national grants, which is undeniable proof of its excellence, he said.
Refuting the claim that ICCBS - University of Karachi was established to discover and develop drugs, he said that this academic centre had been working as an educational research institution with the prime task to train scholars at the post-graduate levels. The graduates of the ICCBS are serving at top positions in industries and academic institutions home and abroad, he said.
He also mentioned that the faculty of the international centre have received more honours and awards nationally and internationally from home and abroad.
Prof Iqbal Choudhary also refuted the false allegations by Dr Tariq Banuri that he was removed from the position of Chairman, Higher Education Commission (HEC) because he had questioned their research output.
He lamented that HEC had subtracted more than Rs200 million in its annual grant for the centre. However, grants worth over Rs850 million have been decreased to Rs650 million, he said, adding that the grants were diminished despite increasing wages and inflation. He said the support that ICCBS received from the government is far less than similar centres in India, Iran, and other countries.
He expressed, “ICCBS – University of Karachi believes in transparency; therefore, this institution has always been ready for audit.” The performance audit of the institute will be welcomed if eminent scientists of international repute would conduct it, he stated.