PhD scholars in Pakistan has considerably increased after the formation of the Higher Education Commission

Increase in PhD scholars does not guarantee quality research work’
Karachi:The number of PhD scholars in Pakistan has considerably increased after the formation of the Higher Education Commission (HEC), but there is growing concern that the quality of the research may not have improved.

Former chairperson of the Department of Food Science & Technology Dr Abid Hasnain disagrees with the above surmise. “No, I am sure that with a few exceptions, the research in Public Sector Universities (PSU) is of relatively high standard. We are mostly doing research on under-utilised resources that can increase the quality of food products and their packaging”, he commented.

Research Scholar Abdul Haque is working on the Edible Coating from Natural Gum Plants. He explained that he had worked in food industries and noted that the industries need solutions through fundamental research. “Our lack of knowledge in certain fields hampers our work. Even adaptations (from some other source of knowledge) are difficult for our researchers. I have chosen this topic because safe packaging and preservation of food products without any side effects has great potential”, he said.

Haque pointed out that packaging material containing plastics are mostly used in the food industry, but they have side effects and are hazardous to the health.

It is because of this reason that edible packaging matter is sought that would increase the packaging and preservation capacity and harmful effects would be minimised.

The cost of packaging is reduced as indigenous plants are abundantly found in the country.

Ex-chairman, Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Karachi (KU), Professor Mansoor Ahmed, was of the opinion that the research work in his university and other PSUs was mostly in the right direction, but majority of the research findings go unnoticed in the field because no body utilizes these findings. “I think the industries should come forward and use the research for mass production in all the fields of science and technology. One of my research students is working on ‘Stability Studies of Haemaccel with other Plasma Substitutes/Plasma Expander’. This is a very important study. Haemaccel is the substitute of the Blood Plasma. It is a sterile, pyrogen free, semi-synthetic 3.5 per cent colloidal infusion solution for plasma substitution. It is derived from thermal degradation of bovine gelatin”, Dr Ahmed gives said while giving details.

According to Dr Ahmed, the research will find the ways that would detect any toxicity in Haemaccel, thus making it suitable for human body during blood loss.

Haemaccel is being subjected to withstand the high and low temperatures, in natural lights, on room temperatures and in various humid conditions. After ascertaining the toxicity phenomenon, it will be safer to use it in various pathological conditions.

Dr Ahmed said “Our research work is the first ever research-oriented standard work in the world. But unfortunately, it is not reported in the research literature.”

Columnist and short story writer Dr Tahir Masood who is a Professor in the Department of Mass Communication, KU, reminds that a research is not meant for factories or some physical gain. “It is abstract and throws light on the poetry, prose or any other literary form, in journalism or philosophy, linguistics or in social sciences”, he stated.The news