Prof Iqbal Choudhary appointed as UNESCO Chairholder

KARACHI: Renowned Pakistani Scientist and Director of the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi, Prof Dr Iqbal Choudhary, has been appointed the UNESCO Chairholder of the newly established UNESCO Chair on Medicinal and Bio-Organic Natural Product Chemistry.

ICCBS Spokesman said that the Director-General UNESCO approved this appointment in Paris.

The spokesman said that this is the first international UNESCO Chair in the University of Karachi, and only the 4th in the entire country, adding that this would help Pakistan become a center of excellence in this important area of research, especially to address the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The UNESCO Chair is a huge honor for Pakistan and is a recognition of Prof Choudhary’s work in the research and development of medicinal and bioorganic natural product chemistry. As a chair holder, Prof Choudhary will promote research, training, information, and documentation on natural medicinal and bio-organic product chemistry.

Prof Choudhary is also serving COMSTECH as Coordinator-General. He is among the most prominent scientists of Pakistan, recognized for his original contributions in the fields of natural products and bioorganic chemistry.

He received the prestigious title of "Distinguished National Professor" from the Higher Education Commission in 2004 and Meritorious Professor by the University of Karachi in 2013. He is a member and fellow of many prestigious societies, including Fellow of The Academy of Sciences for the Developing World, Islamic Academy of Sciences, and Chemical Society of Pakistan.

Ms Patricia McPhillips, the Director and Representative of UNESCO in Pakistan, Vice-Chancellor University of Karachi Prof. Dr Khalid Mehmood Iraqi, and Prof Atta-ur Rahman, ICCBS Patron-in-chief and Chairman of Prime Minister's Task Force on Science and Technology congratulated Prof. Choudhary Choudhary for his achievement.

-MN Report