The aim of 4 years degree program in biotechnology is to equip the students with relevant professional knowledge, skills, techniques and ethical values to enable them to apply their acquired expertise as scientists and educationist. The department goal is to establish and contribute towards country’s catalogue of Biotechnology education and develop biotechnologist as leading educationists and scientists. It will nourish not only the developing biotechnology industry of the country where expert scientists further provide high standards of skills and holistic education to coming generations but also addressing myriads areas which requires innovative biotechnology solutions such as in health and food industry.
The developed countries are focusing to expand and capitalize on biotechnology. Cutting-edge work is also going on in the United Kingdom, Germany, Korea, China and Japan. According to the new research report, “Asia Pacific Biotechnology Market (2008-2012)”, the Asia-Pacific biotech market is projected to grow at a CAGR of around 16% during 2010 – 2012. Japan and China are dominating biotech industry at the regional forefront, while higher growth rates have been expected in emerging markets like Malaysia, India, and Singapore.
Pakistan has recently initiated investment on the applications of biotechnology, especially in agriculture for developing insect-resistant and high yield crops, vaccine production, textile, leather and chemical industries, health, bioinformatics and environmental biotechnology. The Government of Pakistan has invested over US$ 20 million in biotechnology research and hundreds of scientists are working in more than 31 public and private sector biotechnology research centers. There are various funding mechanisms now in place to support research and development in different disciplines of biotechnology. Many international institutions including Asian Development Bank, Islamic Development Bank, World Bank, USAID, Rockefeller Foundation and Australian Centre for International Agriculture Research also provide financial assistance for selected biotech projects.