A prominent research scholar, Dr. Muhammad Ashraf Ali from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) in Saudi Arabia has stressed the need for collaborative research work and academic links between the universities of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia for promotion of skilled manpower.
According to a spokesman from Pakistan's University of Sindh, the scholar emphasized this while delivering a lecture at a seminar on "Catalysts in Petrochemical Industry" organized by National Center of Excellence in Analytical Chemistry (NCEAC) at Allama I.I. Kazi Campus Jamshoro (Sindh).
He called upon the scientists at the NCEAC, University of Sindh and Mehran University to develop specific proposals for an academic link with the King Fahd University.
Dr. Ali explained research and development work being carried out at KFUPM and highlighted the role of Heterogeneous Catalysts in Petroleum Industry and said that it is playing a major role in hydro-cracking of petroleum products.
He discussed in detail refining of catalysis, characteristics of catalyst, removal of sulphur in gasoline by catalyst, selected future research areas on Catalysts, byproducts, waste and energy minimization and refining of oil through catalyst to produce H2 focusing on both fuel formulation and hardware.
The Vice Chancellor of University of Sindh, Mazhar-ul-Haq Siddiqui appreciated the role of the King Fahd University and said that scientists and researchers of the universities of Pakistan can benefit from academic links with the university.
As well as a large number of students and heads of different institutes and departments of the university, the seminar was also attended by Director of NCEAC, Professor Muhammad Iqbal Bhanger, Dean of Faculty of Natural Sciences Professor Dr. Muhammad Yar Khuhawar, Dean of Faculty of Pharmacy Professor Dr. Muhammad Usman Memon and the Registrar Dr. Saeed Ahmed Soomro.
