National Center for Proteomics

Research in Pakistan as we all know is a bit hard and full of hazards, but still HEC has played an important role in past few years to establish a standard for the research in Pakistan. University of Karachi also being involved in the formation of some very constructive research centers.

Along with chemical and biological research in HEJ, Molecular biology and drug research in PCMD, Biotechnology and genetic engineering in KIBGE, University had planned to establish a research center for the field of Proteomics, which is now a latest and advanced field in the biological research. So, in order to compete with rest of the world we should have all possible field specialist as we can have.

Proteomics is actually the protein profiling of the cells at one particular state and it gives us information about all proteins that are being expressed in the cell at one particular time. This study is very much related to the clinical and pathological comparisons of normal and diseased patients, in order to discover some biomarkers for the specific disease.

The idea was presented few years back and about 169.5 million rupees budget was approved for the project, it was inaugurated in March 2008 and became functional last year.

It has some latest facilities of proteomic analysis, for details you can go to the following address

http://www.uok.edu.pk/research_institutes/ncp/index.php

The institute despite of facing some serious grant issues from the government side, still has started working properly under the supervision of its Director Prof. Dr. Shamshad Zarina. The center has carried out a workshop on "Research Tools in Proteomics" last year and a series of lectures from different foreign researchers very successfully. Also, the institute is going to offer its M.S program next year.

The government just cut the grant of all Universities to half, due to which many development programs in the area of research in Pakistan have got serious issues, and National Center for Proteomics is one of them.

For further details you can visit the dawn news paper :

http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/local/35-ku-research-centres-fate-uncertain-ak-03

But the theme is that there are people who want to work for development of research in Pakistan and they are struggling to solve these issues, because we have got a potential to survive even in worst conditions and, hope so we will come out of this soon.

I just forgot to mention that i have recently got a job in National center for Proteomics and working experience in a newly established center is being good, lots of learnings here.

Ideology and Practical

I was so happy and desparate after attending the launching ceremony of "Rashid Minhas" but it just went away today when unwillingly i got a worst discussion to my colleague. I entered the digital lab and going towards my computer, just talked generally about the remarkable win of Pakistan against world champion Australia on 24th of July in the Leads Test match, after 15 years Pakistani team managed to equalise a series with 1-1.

I said it happily and adjusted to my seat then suddenly he turned to me and said in a very taunting manner, "What worth it was of. There is no benefit of Cricket to us. All players got 5 lac rupees each with the tax we paid and we even don't have enough money for our life expenses".

I always avoid him because he never tries to understand the joy, happiness and association within the Pakistani Nation that's the spirit of living for the whole Pakistani Nation. Its just a little moment of joy for the Nation, Why should not we celebrate it in a situation where there are no happy news in the entire country. He just considers the bad things around us, the worst economic and social conditions, the less ethical cultural values, He does not think about the unschooled masses who are actually suffering from the economic crisis, who are real victims of terrorism and still they have more hope than us.

I never tried to argue with him because he always tries to defend his point of view.

"The Nation is a fool always celebrates worthless things. PCB and players are eating our money and we are celebrating the stupid win." He also imagines things as he feels them and so decides whatever is right according to him.

"I am getting bad manners from others, how can i present good manners to them?" He follows others may be he is not able to decide things on his own.

This is not the behavior of one single person, most of the literate people think that they have no future in Pakistan and they would go abroad if they find an opportunity.

I admit that things are more worse than ever, but the educated and matured middle class people are really responsible to rehabilitate Pakistan, we can give our best in every field with honesty and loyalty, even we can guide and educate unschooled masses that how can this condition be changed. But the ground realities are different. We, all are trying to run away from our responsibilities because we have lost the essence of education, we just learn to make money and become materialistic, no moral, no ethics, no purpose of life, no service to country, even no Love.......may be.

I am amazed that the many middle class people like me always look worried about inflation, which is increasing day by day, but when i visit any market once in months, i never found a single shop where there are no customers. There are people everywhere and the market looks more crowded compare to last few years. I smile and say to my sister, " Who says that inflation is increasing, the women of whole Karachi have flooded in the markets, still we complain. Is it become our habit to complain for each and everything around us."

I did not want to argue with my colleague, but at that moment when he cursed the whole Nation, i could not resist and argued with him. The argument become serious and i just finished with a sentence, "Never try to argue with me again, may be i am not able to convince you or you are not able to understand."

He against taunted me with his last sentence, "You always talk ideologically, there is no practical implication of your thoughts, you are just a fool."

I did not answer him, but with burning nerves and red face i just promised to myself, "I will one day show you that practical implications are worthless without ideology."

The Rainbow.......

Human intellect can define the word "color" in two different ways. One way is scientific while the other one is artistic, both have some dimensions. According to science it is white light which has all seven colors and just these colors can be visualized when there is a ray of sunlight passes from a drop of rain or when there is a medium change in the path of light. Whatever color we see actually the thing absorbs all other colors and just reflects that one to make it visible, therefore white color reflects all colors and looks white where as black color absorbs all colors and looks black. In art there is an individual identity of each and every color, when these colors mix together they form further new beautiful colors to enhance the beauty of the universe.

Life is full of different colors but actually there are just major seven colors which are found in white color of light. Each color has some unique features and i personally thought few days back in detail about the role of these colors of rainbow in our life. They are seven in numbers converge to form the white color and when something absorbs all colors they give it a new unique color i.e. Black.

For me, the red color which attracts every man with desires is the most expressive color, it gives us courage for a desire, may be therefore brides always like to wear red color because it reflects their joyous desires for the future.

Orange and yellow colors are bright and shiny , they can convert one's desire into Passion and Love, may be therefore Sun has yellow and orange combination during dawn and dusk.

Green is for Peace and prosperity, provides a space for inner self to get connection with the peace outside and inside, may be therefore National flag has green color.

Blue is the most beautiful color i.e. the color of Unity between thoughts, feelings and ideas, may be therefore sky and seas are blue.

Indigo is for pain and miseries which later on give us strength and power to face troubles of life, preserves our qualities and prevents us from losing, may be therefore some birds who survive in severe climate and weather conditions have indigo color of their body and feathers.

Violet is for the accomplishment has a feeling of wholeness, having rain and sunlight, nights and days, dawn and dusk, pain and joy everything, may be therefore there is a huge number of flowers and buds which have got the violet color.

These all colors are found in white light, and whenever it passes from a droplet of rain spreads these seven colors which actually hidden inside it.

White is the color which reflects all colors present in white light. May be therefore clouds, snow, moon and pigeon have white color.

And finally black which unlike white absorbs all colors of white light, may be therefore it is found everywhere in the universe. In sky and earth when night without moon, in birds and animals, in flowers and buds, in joy and pain, in eyes and hairs, in forests and farms, in stones and diamonds.

So, there are seven unique colors in light which altogether form every black and white of the Universe.

By the way, I was not willing to write this post after reading Sir Akhtar's beautiful post "My, Your and Our world" and just written on the encouragement by Connie.