Nuclear Scientific Community of Pakistan: Clear and Present Danger to Nonproliferation
Including a list of suspected scientists in Pakistan, this paper is an effort to draw attention of the international community on the existing alleged rogue nuclear scientific community in Pakistan and their potential involvement in proliferation of weapons of mass destruction worldwide at different state and non-state levels.
For comprehensive understanding, this paper may be read in continuation with a few earlier papers of the same author on Pakistans nuclear development complex- (i) Pakistan as a proliferator state: Blame it on Dr. A.Q. Khan(http://www.saag.org/papers6/paper567.html); (ii) Nuclear Safety and Security in Pakistan:Under the shades of terrorism (http://www.saag.org/papers6/paper520.html); and, (iii) Nuclear Pakistan: Implications for National and International security(http://www.saag.org/papers5/paper429.html).
Pakistan today is not only the epicenter of international terrorist network but it is also placed in the world as the hub of the international proliferator nuclear scientist network.
The possible fallout may be spread of knowledge, technology, design, material or development of wide range of nuclear devices for both the non-state and state actors worldwide. Given an opportunity, international terrorist networks like Al Qaeda might have hardy lost any stone unturned to acquire technical know-how of radiological dispersal bomb or dirty bomb. Whether Al Qaeda had got it or not, by now it is widely accepted that Al Qaeda has had the motivation for acquisition of nuclear weapons terror strike capability. Countries like North Korea, have been immensely benefited from the Pakistani scientists.
Proliferation: wanted list in Pakistan
Pakistani President and officials of the government at various levels have repeatedly denied any suspected association of scientists from Pakistan with the outside entities. But, the fact remains that the key scientific personnel of Pakistan have lost credibility and their integrity is at stake. Media and intelligence sources indicate following names as frontrunners in the murky deeds, though not all, have as yet not been exposed!
1. Dr. Abdul.Qadeer Khan:
The most revered nuclear scientist in Pakistan remains the most suspected rogue scientist in Pakistan. He has illegal linkages with nuclear aspirants throughout the world. His stature is so elevated and protected by the Pakistani government that he has been epitomized as larger than the nuclear image of Pakistan. Anything said or done against the scientist is supposed to be anti-Pakistan, anti-Islam and so non-tolerable. But, no doubt, the recent media and intelligence expose suffice evidence for Dr. Khans pivotal role in proliferations emerging from Pakistan.
"If the international community had a proliferation most-wanted list, A Q Khan would be the 'most-wanted' on the list," Robert Einhorn, former assistant secretary of state for non-proliferation in the Clinton administration was so quoted in The News. (The News, Sunday Weekly, Special Report, January 19, 2003)
Dr. A.Q. Khan, the so called father of Pakistan's nuclear bomb, who is alleged to have stolen the design and engineering plans for gas centrifuges from Netherlands, has visited many Islamic and non-Islamic countries. Dr. Khans interaction with the scientists of Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iraq and Libya and his reported visits to North Korea and Iran have brazenly violated the norms of the nonproliferation regimes.
2. Dr. Bashiruddin Mehmood:
It is now known that the Pakistani nuclear scientist, Sultan Bashiruddin Mahmood, who was arrested on October 23, 2001, had held extensive meetings in August 2001 with Osama bin Laden, one of his top lieutenant Al Zawahiri, and two other Al Qaeda officials in the Afghan capital of Kabul. Including former military officers Brig (rtd.) Mohammad Hanif, foundations finance director and Commodore (rtd.) Arshad Ali Chaudhary, vice president of the foundation many other associates of Dr. Mahmood in his suspected charitable foundation Ummah Tameer-e-Nau or " Islamic Reconstruction " can be said to be the conduits to the scientists alleged connection with Al Qaeda.
Dr. Mahmood had also several meetings with Mohammad Omar, head of the ousted Taleban government, during his visit to Kandahar in mid-summer of 2001.
He
has been quoted saying in public that Pakistan should help other
Islamic nations build nuclear bombs. He also had admired the
fundamentalist regime of Talebanmilitia.
Sultan
Bashiruddin Mahmood is popularly known in Pakistani scientific circles
as SBM and a staunch believer in Islamic science. In 1986, he founded
the Holy Koran Research Foundation to explore the intersection between
Islam and science.
Pakistani
officials have maintained that the scientists did not pass important
secrets to Al Qaeda, but they have no proper explanation to the fact
that Mahmood failed multiple polygraph examinations about his
activities.
Dr. Mahmood has
experience in both uranium enrichment and plutonium production. The
Scientist is said to be a significant contributor to Khushab nuclear
reactor, mainstay of Pakistans weapon grade Plutonium. During
interrogation, in an interview to The News he had said that he could never stay before the (lie-detecting) machine beyond a few minutes because of his age and health!
By
early 1990s, he was a key figure in Pakistans nuclear weapons
programme. He headed the Kahuta uranium enrichment plant in the early
1990s and was given charge of the Khushab reactor, in 1998. He worked
there till his resignation in 1999.
3. Chaudhary Abdul Majid:
Abdul Majid has worked in Afghanistan along with Dr. Bashiruddin Mahmood. He worked till 1999 as Chief Engineer in PAEC.
4. Dr. Mirza Yusuf Baig:
A
former scientist of PAEC, Mirza Yusuf Baig is a close associate of Dr.
Bashiruddin Mahmood. The scientists alleged connection with mastermind
of Al Qaeda has not yet been cleared.
5. Mohammad Nasim:
Mohammad
Nasim had co-authored Bashiruddin in 1999 to an article in opposing
Pakistans probable stance on signing CTBT. It is not yet clear whether
he was interrogated for his association with Dr. Bashiruddin.
6. Humayun Niaz:
Humayun
Niaz is a former PAEC personnel and has allegedly tried to explore the
occurrence of uranium and plutonium in Afghanistan.
7. Sheikh Mohammed Tufail:
Sheikh
Mohammed Tufail is the owner of one of Pakistans leading engineering
companies and, also, one of the directors of Dr. Mahmoods charitable
foundation, Islamic Reconstruction.
8. Dr. Muhammd Ali Mukhtar:
Dr.
Mukhtar is Ph.D in nuclear physics and has served in Khusab and
Islamabad offices of PAEC. He is said to have joined PAEC in early
1980s. This Scientist is a weapon expert. He was allowed to slip out of
Pakistan to Myanmar along with Dr. Suleiman Asad fearing interrogation
by American agencies. The duo are said to have participated in an
unspecified research programme in Myanmar. Before leaving to Myanmar,
the scientist had been working in Khan Research Laboratories in the
department dealing with defence production. The scientist is said to
have connections with Al Qaeda.
9. Dr. Suleiman Asad:
To
escape the interrogation regarding his linkage with Al Qaeda, with the
support of Musharraf government Dr. Asad along with Dr. Ali Mukhtar had
flown to Sagaing division of Myanmar. Dr. Asad is a weapon expert.
IT IS NOT YET OVER:
Between 1997 to 2002, nine
scientists are said to have left Pakistan for unknown destinations as
listed in an internal memo of Chasma Nuclear Power Plant (CHASNUPP) as
absconders. This further adds to the worry of international community of
the fear of falling of nuclear know-how into wrong hands. Wherever they
are they could easily fall prey to shady middlemen and money launderers
working for both the state and non-state actors internationally. It all
depends on the price one will be willing to get for transferring
classified information and sensitive technologies. They are:
1. Muhammad Zubair, worked as Asst. Engineer, CNS Fellow, in Electrical Division, absconding from April 1997,
2. Murad Qasim,
worked as Senior Engineer, KINPOE (KANNUP Institute of Nuclear Power
Engineering) fellow, in Mechanical Division, Maintenance, absconding
from February 2000,
3. Tariq Mahmood, worked as Senior Engineer, CNS Fellow, in Operation Division, absent from May 2000,
4. Saeed Akhther, working as Senior Engineer, CNS Fellow, in Training Division, absconding from June 2000,
5. Imtaz Baig, worked as Senior Engineer, KINPOE Fellow, of Operation Division not available since July 2000,
6. Waheed Nasir, had been working as Senior Engineer, KINPOE Fellow, in Mechanical Division, absconded from August 2000,
7. Munawar Ismail, employed as Senior Engineer, CNS fellow, in Technical Division absconding from October 2000,
8. Shaheen Fareed, had been working as Senior Engineer, CNS fellow, of Operation Division, not available since February 2002 and,
9. Khalid Mahmood, worked as Senior Engineer, in Operation Division, absconded from July 2002.
Why Pakistani nuclear scientists are proliferants personified? Media and intelligence reports reveal illegal involvement of Pakistani scientists in the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Scientists in Pakistan are inclined for performing unlawful services for primarily three main reasons.
First, there exists a close nexus of Islamic fundamentalist identities in between scientific community, military and the government agencies- both political and intelligence. The shared feeling for the development and spread of Islamic bomb, has its bearing on the scientists who have actively participated in the development of nuclear weapons in Pakistan as their religious duty. The scientists are motivated to indulge into illegal practices in the name of national religion i.e. Islam. Pakistani scientists whose credentials are verifiable for alleged hobnobbing with other Islamic countries fall in this group. Infiltration of extremist ideologies into this group raises vulnerability. Radical Islamist scientists of such nature are identifiable for possible connection with the Jehadis too.
Second, Pakistani government institutions oversee and support the scientists whose services are employed in furtherance of Islamabads interest internationally. Pakistani scientists who are alleged to have been involved in the nuclear development programmes of the frequently referred axis of evil states, Iran-North Korea and Iraq, fall in this category.
Also, the third, desire for getting more financial rewards can be said as great impetus for the scientists to cross the essentially required moral conduct limits. Scientists of both the above mentioned group may or may not belong to this category, but in an atmosphere of state sponsored evils, there must emerge a few outlawed scientists who dare to be disloyal to institutional affiliation in terms of self-interest. This section of scientists is most dangerous for any non-proliferation regime or for any international coalition to fight against nuclear terrorism.
In a nutshell, Pakistan as a state actor not only sponsors scientists in covert activities but also harbours rogue scientific elements in the country.
The Challenges ahead:
* Pakistani nuclear weapons programme has a long history of illicit procurements and deliberate deceptions that involved many scientific personnel too. The heroic accreditations as attached to Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan, despite international condemnations, remains a dream objective of many fellow scientists in Pakistan.
* Therefore, in a state sponsored illegal nourishing environment like one in Pakistan, chances are always high of commissions and omissions by the Pakistani scientists. But for the long-term security and safety of international community, this practice needs to be monitored and checked. Consolidated international efforts are required to make Pakistan a responsible state actor.
* The whereabouts of the absconding Scientists should be checked and they should be interrogated for possible connections.
* Verification and control regimes of nonproliferation should review the policy approach towards this problem. Pakistans scientific community is already excessively influenced by the ideology of developing Islamic bomb. Close monitoring is required over the movement and activities of the brains that have worked in the Pakistans nuclear weapons development programmme.
* Periodic examination of credentials of the scientists working in different sensitive facilities in Pakistan may have to be undertaken.
* There should be an arrangement by which scientists with radical motivations could be dissuaded from indulging in unlawful activities. This is a responsibility of the state and a duty towards the international community.
* Sharing of information should be a priority for the nations who are committed to fight against the menace of terrorism in general and nuclear terrorism in particular. Mutual trust and diplomatic initiatives will add to its effectiveness.
* An international consensus could be evolved to crack down on the terrorist outfits worldwide, with the slightest indication for the possession of weapons of mass destruction capability in any form, without discrimination.
Dr. Abdul Salam
Dr. Abdul Salam, a Nobel laureate in Physics is one of the most outstanding scientists of Pakistan. He was awarded honorary doctorate by 26 universities. He was a fellow at St.John's College Cambridge, a fellow at the Institute of Advanced Studies at Princeton University, a member of the Royal Society and of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. His areas of research were physics of elementary particles and scientific education and science policy.
Pakistan's young scientists recognized in new academy
[ISLAMABAD] Pakistan's early-career scientists have launched a
national academy to share research findings, and address specific
concerns such as a lack of career opportunities and brain drain.
The
National Academy of Young Scientists (NAYS) is for scientists aged 40
years and under, and will also include young Pakistani scientists
working abroad.
The academy is in its initial stages and 350
young scientists have joined so far. They have started a newsletter,
negotiated young scientists' representation in the Pakistan Academy of
Sciences and written a proposal letter for collaborative activities with
the Pakistan chapter of UNESCO.
"Young scientists of Pakistan —
who are an invaluable intellectual resource for the nation — can play a
pivotal role in developing future strategies for using science and
technology for socioeconomic uplift," Anwar Nasim, science advisor to
the Organisation of Islamic Conference's (OIC) Standing Committee on
Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) and patron of the
new academy, told SciDev.Net.
The NAYS' objectives include
promoting science education and careers, motivating young researchers to
share their findings, improving coordination among science societies
and encouraging university–industry partnerships.
Although the
academy does not yet have government backing, NAYS hopes to persuade
policymakers and academia to ensure a bigger role for younger scientists
in the country's development, said NAYS president Aftab Ahmad. As a
start, the government-backed Pakistan Academy of Sciences has agreed to
include younger scientists among its members.
"Young scientists
are neither represented nor are their concerns properly addressed at
national meetings of scientists and policymakers," Ejaz Ahmad, NAYS
member and a professor of chemistry at the Punjab University, Lahore,
told SciDev.Net. Pakistan's young scientists are mainly concerned about
unemployment, insufficient salaries and brain drain.
A 2005
report on brain drain from OIC countries — by the Islamic Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organisation (ISESCO) — said: "In the case of
Pakistan, professionals who are going abroad consist of a significant
number of civil servants and those belonging to the scientific
community. These are the people who complain about the casual attitude
of society towards professionals, particularly scientists."
ISESCO
and the Pakistani government do not have specific statistics on the
migration of the country's scientists or the gap between science
graduates and science jobs. But the ISESCO report reveals that the
migration of highly qualified people rose from 1,300 in 1995 to 3,300 in
2004.
NAYS members are also keen to promote university–industry
partnerships which, they hope, will help universities tailor their
course content according to industry's needs rather than churning out
graduates in disciplines of no interest to local industries.
Great Pakistan Scientist : Role Model for Us
Syllabus oriented study , 85% + aim , chunky job , furnished house , brand new Honda and if medical field , right after graduate , cling around USMLE and run from that country who made them doctors , spend millions on them for lab , infrastructure and all that.Land at US airport , being naked , shoes and trousers are taken off ut who cares ! Rs 20 lakh/ month dreams after just 3 or 4 years are so bright and charmng that noone cares about Pakistan , its difficulties that 60% of its alum leave Pakistan for ' better future' and left are those who can neither have a chance to leave or few ' mad' who want to serve poor humanity in PAkistan !
But in all this mess and chaos , thanks god we have some people who live for others , do for others and take pain for others more than thier own luxuries and comforts.
Muhammad Sabieh Anwar
Look at this young man of "30" ..and see what he is doing for Pakistan !!
..His age..only 30 years ..and he has completed his Post Doc from University of California ..Berkeley....under world greatest NMR/MRI scientist Professor Alex Pines ...completed his PhD at 26 from Oxford Universiy.....as a Rhodes Scholar from Pakistan......got his Electrical Engineering from UET , Lahore.and got first position.......( 87%) ....broke the 10 years record of Goverment College,Lahore ..in FSc..by getting 961/1100 and got first position and over all fourth in Matriculations from Crescent Model School , Lahore getting 779/850 and also passed O Level Exams ..in just few months ..and got 9 A's...!!!!
He can get 5 or 6 lakh Rs / month ...means 60K $ per annum...while researching in US or be a part of any prestigious universty faculty....but ...look...he is serving his mother land..due to which ..he is now ..at this position ...he is presently working as a Assistant Professor.....at LUMS....SSE... Lahore ..Pakisatn....
Look at Sabieh Anwar picture...at Oxford .....white colour face..here...
and look at his picture ..when he just arrived at Berkeley, California ....dark colour ..and weak face....
Do you know the reason.....?????
This is because..in hot summer ..and months in Pakistan ...in 2004...he used to go to Pakistan top most educational institutions to teach the science and engineering students ...totally free..about the latest research going on in the world....on his motor cycle...
On his bike...in 45 Celsius.....from Punjab University ..to Goverment Collge...from UET..to COMSAT..from LUMS..to Quada-i-Azam ,University, Islamabad ...
He used to go Islambad ..3 days in a week...on Niazi Bus Service.. ..from Lahore and back to Lahore ....where he was giving lectures in Punjab University..UET..and GC etc etc...He could earn 6 lakh Rs ..easily with any world top most University in US or UK ....
but he was riding his Honda 70 ...on Lahore Roads ..in 45 Celsius ..to give this nation..and ummah..all...which he gained at Oxford and Berkeley . !!!!!
1000 runners , greedy..hawis parast doctors ..and professionals...members of AAPNA which have run from Pakistan ...for money..can be sacrifised on the boot toe of such a patriot..dedicated..selfless..and one of the top most science scholar of islamic world....for what he did for Pakistan and Ummah.....and still is doing....!!!!
MUHAMMAD SABIEH ANWAR
Muhammad Sabieh Anwar completed his D.Phil. from the Department of Physics, Oxford University (UK) in 2004, where he studied as a Rhodes Scholar from Pakistan . His dissertation was titled, "Quantum Information Processing using Para-Hydrogen NMR" and revolved around the preparation of pure quantum states for quantum computing. This work also constituted the world first demonstration of quantum entanglement in the liquid state. Its the v basic of world first liquid state quantum computer of the world.
His post-doctoral experience at the University of California , Berkeley ( USA ) involved the demonstration of hyper polarized NMR using heterogeneous catalytic systems, microfloppies and "lab-on-a-chip" NMR, synthesis of precise magnetic fields for ex-situ NMR, algorithmic cooling, polarization lifetime studies and hypersensitive nanoparticle MRI. Prior to his doctoral studies Sabieh Anwar received his B.Sc. (Honours) degree in electrical engineering (electronics and communications) from the UET, Lahore .
Sabieh'scurrent research interests include quantum control, spin mechanisms in nanomagnetic materials and nanotechnology. His research has been published in the Physical Review Letters, A and B, Chemical Physics Letters, Analytical Chemistry, Journal of the American Chemical Society, Angewandte Chemie, Magnetic Resonance in Chemistry, Daltons Transactions and Modern Physics Letters B.
He has also taught at the
* Punjab University,
* UET (Lahore),
* National Centre for Physics ,Quada-i-Azam University (Islamabad)
* COMSATS Department of Physics (Islamabad) and has been an active speaker at many national and international physics / chemistry forums.
Dr. Sabieh is also the Joint Secretary and one of the founders of the Khwarzimic Science Society
http://www.khwarzimic.org/
a non-profit organization aiming at developing a science culture in Lahore 's educational institutions. This Association has organized about 150 events of different kinds with the objective of strengthening the popular image of the scientific content and method.
AWARDS
Dr. Sabieh is recipient of several awards including the Rhodes Scholarship (Rhodes Trust), G.A. Paul Scholarship ( University College , Oxford ), Aizaz-e-Sabqat (Government of Pakistan), Nishan-e-Haider Scholarship (GOP), Roll-of-Honour ( Government College , Lahore ) and gold medals from the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education and Punjab Textbook Board.
WONDERS...
Khawarzimic science Society is a wonderful organization..anyone from any field ..and from any part of the world..can be its member.... Pakistan uper brains are its members...it was strted by Dr Sabieh and his father Dr Siddiqui ..in 1997 ..with only 2 or 3 memebers..and alhumdullilah ..now .its the biggest non profit pakistani based society...
When he was studying his D Phil..in Oxford as Rhodes Scholar..in vacation when he used to vist Pakistan ...he used to give totally free lectures to pakistan top most educational institutions like ....
* Punjab University ... Lahore
*UET.. Lahore
*FAST.. Lahore
* Government College ..Lahore
*Quada-i-Azam University Islamabad
* COMSAT ...Islamabad
about all which he was studying at Oxford....to keep pakistani students up to date with latest developments nano technology..and quantum computing....
All lectures were free...and large amout of young students benifited from them....
The Khawrzimic society also invited great scholars like Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy..and many other to its totally free public lectures....about new developments in science and physics...
after completing his PhD...He was previously teching ...in
* Quada-i-Azam University ...NCP(Natinal Centre of Physics).. Islamabad
* UET .. Lahore
* COMSAT
officaly..and privately gave some lectures ..in
* Government College Chemistry Department
*CASP(Centre for Advandced Studies in Physics) , Goverment College Lahore ...
* FAST NUCES University ...
* LUMS...
then after 6 months he went for his post doctoral in Berkeley ..under world top NMR(Nuclear Magnetic Resonance..an advanced form of MRI..Magnetic Resonance Imaging used extensively in medical field) ...Professor Alex Pines..of PINES LABS...
He also worked in LAWRENCE BERKELEY LAB there..a lab ..which is under US energy department mostly..and very few blessed students get a chance to work there...
Here is the link of Pines Labs....Profesor Alex Pines and his achievements...his students are wordly known as PINEUTS ...I think he is the only Pakistani may be first Muslim ..to be PINENUT...Here is a link of Professor Alex Pines
http://waugh.cchem.berkeley.edu/
Flight...
All those who want to know about
his flight of thoughts and KSS ..
and purpose of his wonderful ..rather Pakistan most famous non profit science organization..just click on that....
http://www.khwarzimic.org/frontline/perspectives.pdf
NASA scientist from Pakistan
IT
is not every day that you come across a Pakistani scientist who has
worked for the United States space agency Nasa. A noted physicist who
has taught and trained thousands of scientists, engineers and
technicians, Dr Bashir A. Syed was here in Pakistan recently.
Now
in his late sixties, he is as alert and active as he was in his younger
years. He travels the world over to give lectures and make
presentations on harnessing renewable energy resources and designing
solar, wind and water energy projects.
Bashir Syed is vice-president, R&D, EnerTech Enterprises based in Houston, USA. He is a well-known physicist who has worked for Nasa and other research organizations for decades.
An alumnus of the DJ Sindh Government Science College, he taught there when Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan was a student.
In
the United States he attended some of the most prestigious
universities. He has been a Fulbright scholar, and a Nasa scholar. His
first job was with the Rockwell International Science Centre where he
worked on Support US-EPA Contract for Air Pollution Monitoring through
Remote Sites.
He also worked for Control Data Corporation where
he trained engineers in mainframes/miniframes and digital computer
design. Then he joined General Electric where he was involved in
microelectronics (design and fabrication of CMOS-SOS ICs, Ga-As
monololithic), microwave ICs (MMICs), EW systems, phased array antenna
design, optronics, and formulation of a military standard
(MIL-Perf-38535) for procurement of ICs, SPICE Commitee and NSRE
Commitee.
Bashir Syed has also worked for Nasa support
corporations such as Ford Aerospace, Loral Aerospace, Lockheed Martin,
Science Applications International Corporation. All of them support
International Space Station, the space shuttle, manned space programme
for Mars, Deep Space Probes, etc.
During his stay in Karachi,
Dawn Sci-tech World talked to him. When asked how he got involved in the
Nasa work, Mr Syed said that “in 1989 General Electric where I worked
decided that they no longer wanted to be in military business, and laid
off scientist and technicians engaged in that field. One day, I received
a call from a Nasa contractor and was offered a job. It was to support
the building of International Space Station.”
Mr Syed played a
major role in the project from the design phase till the construction
phase. He also participated in the Space Shuttle Modification Programme
“since the shuttle had developed some faults and the system had become
very old.”
An interesting project Mr Syed worked on was
development of the space probes. Since he is a specialist on cosmic
radiation, he was in charge of space radiation effects on the space ship
and its components.
“As you can understand, the equipment sent
out in the space is badly damaged because of the radiation to which it is
exposed. This radiation comes from the sun as well as cosmic rays. My
job was to teach the engineers how to mitigate these effects so that
this problem does not occur and if it does, how to rectify it.”
Mr
Syed was also a member of the radiation safety committee which not only
took care of the instruments and gadgets exposed to radiation but also
effects of radiation on engineers and technicians who handled them.
He
got retired in September 2002 but before his retirement did some
research in recently emerging micro-technology, especially the carbon nano tubes.
“The carbon nanotubes are much stronger than Kapton, the material used in bulletproof vests.
Equipped
with the knowledge that he gained from his job with the space programs, he launched a business with three colleagues. His company
provides ways to harness solar and wind energies. It is engaged in
designing solar energy panels and working on projects related to solar
heating as well as cooling systems.
“Right now we are involved in
two major projects: one is on a small island off the coast of Tanzania
where there is no electricity. They have asked us to prepare feasibility
study that would eventually help in setting up a wind farmin order to
provide electricity to a stadium.
“We are also working on another
island in the Adriatic Sea off the coast of Croatia. Over there too we
have been asked to set up a wind farm.”
He believes that wind farms and solar energy are the right solutions to meet the power needs in Pakistan.
“There
are two reasons for that. One is that by relying on fossil fuels we are
increasing atmospheric pollution globally. As a result, earth warming
is taking place. This is no fiction any more but a reality. In order to
minimize that effect Pakistan has been given at least 20 million dollars
from the United Nations Environmental Fund under the Kyoto Protocol.
“In
addition, the Asian Development Bank has given funds to Pakistan to
interdict renewable energy technologies. Moreover, fossil fuels are
depleting and becoming more and more expensive.
“On the other
hand, we have natural energy sources that are recyclable all the year
round. For instance, the sun is always there five to eight hours a day.
Of course at some places the sun is more suitable while at others the
wind is the right choice.
“We are preparing feasibility studies
in coastal areas such as Karachi and Gwadar where there is a lot of
wind. At these places, big windmills can be set up successfully. At
others, where the wind velocity is low, small wind mills should be set
up to meet specific needs. A big windmill can generate three to four
megawatts of energy.”
Can you estimate how big a windfarm would be needed to meet the power needs of a city the size of Karachi?
“Karachi’s
electric supply cannot be entirely met with wind energy. The city
already has fossil fuel power plants as well a nuclear power plant. The
Alternate Energy Board in Islamabad has estimated that almost ten per
cent of Karachi’s electrical energy needs can be met with renewable
energy sources.”
Is it viable to use wave energy or geothermal energy for electric power supply?
“The
wind energy and geothermal energy can be harnessed with very advanced
technologies which are available only in developed countries.
“As
for solar energy, it would be astounding to know that the Earth
receives as much energy from the sun in one day which would suffice the
needs for all the inhabitants of the planet for seven days.
“Solar
cell technology is changing so rapidly that silicon solar cells which
are most expensive to produce are being replaced by copper cells whose
technology is being developed in France. Although the solar cells
produced from copper only have a ten-year life, the difference in cost
is considerable.’
About the ongoing debate on whether Pakistan
needs big or small dams, Mr Syed said: “You don’t have to build huge
dams and can rely on small dams wherever there are waterfalls. The
technology is called micro-hydroelectric technology. This type of dams
have been built successfully in China.”
The writer is a Dawn staffer
Some amazing facts
DR BASHIR Ahmed Syed disclosed that Naveed Sheikh, a Pakistani scientist at the University of Durham, has recently developed the first permanent magnet completely made from plastic. He was delivering a lecture about radiation at the DJ Sindh Government Science College, Karachi.
He told the audience, comprising students and teachers of the college, that common household bulbs were only five per cent efficient at converting the electricity into light as they waste 95 per cent of electricity as heat. Though the efficiency of a fluorescent lamp is about 20 per cent, the newly invented white LEDs have an efficiency of 95 per cent, which means a 6-watt LED will give more light than a common 100-watt bulb; and that is why the projected market for white LEDs is 40 billion dollars worldwide.
Covering various types and aspects of radiations Dr Syed, former senior scientist at Nasa, and radiation expert from the US, explained how radiation is categorized regarding depending on its source (natural and non-natural) and its interaction (ionizing or non-ionizing) with matter.
Citing the example of energetic cosmic rays from outer space, he said that their dose increases with height, as earth's atmosphere gets thinner. Frequent travellers of high-flying jet planes receive a greater dose of cosmic rays and because of that they are at a greater risk of getting cancer.
Exemplifying the effects of x-rays, Dr Syed pointed out that during the first half of twentieth century, x-raying feet for the fit-most shoes became fashionable in the US. Later it was proved that excessive x-rays also cause cancer. Now, with more detailed studies on x-rays, patients are discouraged to have their bodies frequently x-rayed.
Radioactivity from the atomic bombs or reactors is commonly thought of as a health hazard for human beings but other radiations also harm us, he told the audience. For example, electromagnetic radiation emanating from a high-tension, 60Hz power line can especially affect newborns living in the neighborhood. That is why in Canada and US, power regulations also include measures related to these radiations. He said that all household electromagnetic devices, including fans, sewing machines, electric shavers, televisions, microwave ovens, computers and so on, produce invisible radiation.
Cellphones also rely on microwaves. Scientists have studied their effects on human body as well, but they could not find any significant results. Now they are preparing more detailed studies that will cover wide-ranging effects of microwaves from the cellphones on the human body.
When asked about his opinion regarding the chemical/radiological effects of Depleted Uranium (DU), mostly used by US armed forces as shells for various projectiles, Dr Syed declined to answer, saying it was rather a political issue.
"Had I been associated with only academia," he said, "I wouldn't have had greater chances to learn, [because] working for the industry provides you broader challenges as you have to apply your knowledge to solve problems in real life."
Concluding his lecture, Dr Syed said that one should not underestimate oneself and one's capabilities. Everyone has a purpose in life, and one can certainly play a role to make this world a better place.—
No comments:
Post a Comment