HEC launches research, education link with US foundation
By Hina Kiyani

ISLAMABAD—The Higher Education Commission (HEC) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) of United States of America (USA) are jointly funding a high performance research and education network connection to support Pak-US Science and Technology collaborations.
This dedicated network will link scientists, research facilities, supercomputers and databases in Pakistan and the US. This project will connect the existing PERN and the developing PERN2 network to the global research and education network infrastructure. This connection will be implemented by a joint purchase of capacity on an undersea cable system connecting PERN/PERN2 in Karachi to an international network connection point in Singapore.
“The launching of new connection is part of HEC’s strategy to leap frog forward. We have similar parallel networks connections to connect Pakistan to research networks in Europe, Canada and Korea. The HEC has come of age and it has been successful in creating the infrastructure for best quality research through harnessing technology,” said Prof. Dr. Atta-ur-Rehman, Chairman HEC, while speaking as chief guest at the inaugural ceremony of seminar on ‘Dedicated Research and Education Connection between Pakistan Education and Research Network (PERN) and Internet2 of the USA’. “The faculty members and researchers must utilize the opportunities being provided by Higher Education Commission (HEC) in the field of education and research,” added Chairman HEC.
Dr. Atta asserted that only effective use of these new tools would make the difference in our education landscape and it is basically the faculty, which has to play a key role in this regard.
“All these steps including high-speed research networks, video conferencing, digital library etc are aimed at providing faculty members and researchers state-of-the-art facilities so that they can compete at international level”, he said.
He informed the gathering that 60 percent of HEC funds have been allocated for human resource development. “Over 2,000 Pakistani scholars have been sent to world’s leading universities for MS and PhD studies and once these scholars come back they will find an entirely changed educational environment”.
Dr. James Williams, Director, International Networking and Operational Assurance and Principal Investigator for Indiana University said that we are here to celebrate an investment in knowledge on part of the US National Science Foundation and the Pakistan Higher Education Commission.
“For me and for many people here, this workshop represents a major milestone in the course of our project to enhance science and technology collaborations between the US and Pakistan. This project had its origins in the US-Pakistan Joint Committee Meeting on Science and Technology between Dr. Atta-ur-Rehman and Dr. Arden Bement of the NSF”. “An important objective of this project was introduction of high-speed connectivity between the two countries and today we are announcing a very significant step toward meeting that objective. This network connection is an important mechanism for enhancing collaborations. But, it is only a mechanism.