Pakistan has huge reservoirs of minerals: Dr Samar

Lahore: Pakistan needs to develop indigenous technologies to become economic power, said eminent nuclear scientist Dr Samar Mubarakmand while addressing a special lecture on “Power generation through underground gasification of Thar coal and Pakistan nuclear deterrence” at the Physics Department of Government College University, Lahore, which was chaired by Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Khaleeq-ur-Rahman.

Professor Rafi Chair Dr Muhammad Zakria Butt and Centre for Advanced Studies in Physics (CASP) Director Prof Dr Raiz were also present. Addressing the lecture, Dr Samar said Pakistan itself developed its nuclear and missile technologies which were far better than of India.

“First world countries would never give their first grade technology to us, and rather they would exploit our resources through it,” he added. He said universities had a major role throughout the world in research and developing technologies, so they were needed to be further strengthened.

The nuclear scientist applauded that it had been highly courageous on the part of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to give his team go ahead for nuclear explosions in 1998. He shared the complete story of Pakistan becoming nuclear power from 1970s till last few hours of atomic explosions. He said that there were 60 officers in the team which had carried out explosions, out of which 40 were Ravians including their team leaded.

He said that Pakistan’s missile system was also designed by a team of Ravians, who were working at the international organisations like NASA and sacrificed their jobs and millions of dollar salaries just to serve their mother land He said some critics tried to discourage Pakistan, saying nuclear bomb was not more important than education, food and basic facilities to the people, but they became silent after observing Indian aggression in 1999 over Kargal issue.

Dr Samar said that he personally liked mineral sector and Pakistan had huge reservoirs of minerals. He informed listeners that there were massive reservoirs of coal in the country but these were very deep in earth and near water and it was very difficult to dig it out. He said Pakistan had huge reservoirs of mineral resources, but they should develop indigenous technology to dig out and use these resources in industry.

Speaking on the occasion, Vice Chancellor Prof Rahman said Dr Samar was their national hero and pride of Pakistan. He said that the university had established a society in the name of Dr Samar at CAPS to pay tribute to him.