Global Astronomy Survey: Pakistan

First submission : Ghulam Murtaza [human resources section] 31 March 2009
SPoC Approved : Yes

1. Professional (Research) Astronomy:

(i)    Number of universities offering Astronomy (and their names)

2
•    University of Punjab
•    Institute of Space and Planetary Astrophysics (ISPA), University of Karachi

(ii) Number of universities offering Physics (and their names)

65
Azad Jammu and Kashmir
•    Ali Ahmed Shah, University College of Engineering & Technology, Mirpur
•    Mohi-ud-Din Islamic University
•    University of Azad Jammu & Kashmir
Baluchistan (Province)
•    Baluchistan University of Engineering & Technology, Khuzdar
•    University of Baluchistan
Islamabad (Federal Capital)
•    Allama Iqbal Open University
•    Bahria Institute Of Management And Computer Sciences 
•    COMSATS Institute of Information Technology 
•    Fauji Foundation Institute of Manegment and Computer Sciences (FFIMCS)
•    International Islamic University, Islamabad 
•    Mohammad Ali Jinnah University 
•    National University of Computer & Emerging Sciences (Islamabad) 
•    Quaid-e-Azam University  
NWFP (Province)
•    Asian Management Institute - Iqra University -Peshawar Campus
•    CECOS University of IT & Emerging Sciences
•    City University of Science & Information Technology
•    Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Science and Technology 
•    Gandhara University 
•    Gomal University
•    National University of Computer & Emerging Sciences (Peshawar) 
•    Northern University 
•    NWFP University of Engineering and Technology (Peshawar)
•    University of Peshawar
Punjab (Province)
•    Al-Mawrid Institute of Islamic Sciences 
•    Askari College of Business Administration and Computer Science (Lahore) 
•    Bahauddin Zakariya University 
•    Beaconhouse Informatics 
•    Fatima Jinnah Women University 
•    GIFT University, Gujranwala
•    Government College Lahore 
•    Institute of Management and Technology
•    Islamia University Bahawalpur
•    Islamic International Engineering College 
•    Lahore University of Management Sciences 
•    National University of Computer & Emerging Sciences (Lahore) 
•    National University of Science and Technology 
•    OPSTEC Overseas Pakistanis Science and Technology City
•    Punjab Institute of Computer Sciences
•    Punjab University 
•    Punjab University College of Information Technology 
•    The University of Lahore
•    University Of Central Punjab
•    University of Engineering and Technology (Lahore) 
•    University of Engineering and Technology (Taxila)
•    Virtual University of Pakistan
Sind (Province)
•    Asia Pacific Institute Of Information Technology 
•    Asian Management Institute 
•    Bahria University 
•    Hamdard University 
•    Institute of Industrial Electronics Engneering
•    Institute of Islamic Studies and Research 
•    Isra University (Hyderabad) 
•    Jinnah University for Women, Karachi
•    Karachi Institute of Information Technology 
•    Karachi University
•    KASBIT
•    Mehran University of Engineering and Technology (Jamshoro)
•    Mohammad Ali Jinnah University 
•    National University of Computer & Emerging Sciences (Karachi) 
•    NED University of Engineering and Technology 
•    Shah Abdul Latif University Khairpur
•    Sind University
•    Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology 
•    SZABIST
•    Usman Institute of Technology

(iii) Number of academics who have been trained in Astronomy (ideally with their
names and levels of qualification)


No full time researcher in Astronomy in all of Pakistan
(5 PhD students, 3 assistant professors)

(iv) Number of astronomical facilities (observatories, telescopes, etc) and as much detail about each as possible (websites/contact details)


•    Meade Optical Telescope, 8”, (Mr Ghulam Murtaza, SUPARCO, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )
•    Optical reflecting Telescope, Aperture: 6” (Shahid Qureshi, University of Karachi, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )

(v) Self evaluation (according to the different phases above, how would you rate your country in terms of Professional Astronomy? Please include any other relevant information to motivate your choice)

Phase 3

2. Public Understanding of Astronomy:

(i) What governmental astronomy/science outreach programmes for the public take place (co-ordinated either by government departments or national facilities)


The only governmental outreach program for public and especially for young generation is the web link http://www.suparco.gov.pk/pages/youth-edu.asp?edulinkid=1 and a Planetarium at Karachi and Lahore.

(ii) What non-governmental astronomy/science outreach programmes for the public take place (NGO activities or international programmes that your country is involved in)

Astronomy awareness programs, star gazing and solar system observation arrange for public by various non-governmental astronomical societies. (Association with any international astronomical society or program is none)

(iii) Comment on the presence of astronomy in the media (TV, radio, newspapers). Is it very prominent? Are there specific programmes on astronomy? Is the media generally willing to publish news on astronomy?


Not very prominent – news publish on print and electronic media at the time of occurrence of any astronomical event.
Astronomical institutions do not have good contacts with the media.
There is a weekly half hour national TV program on science - often featuring astronomy stories.

(iv) Comment on the presence of astronomy/science in the general culture of the people. Are there any specific challenges or setbacks? Is astronomy a welcome subject of conversation?

Astronomy captures the interest of public particularly new moon sighting and eclipses are always considered important.
The main challenge is that there is no organization of public outreach at the national level. Each institution (university, planetarium) runs individual activities independently.

(v) Self evaluation (according to the different phases above, how would you rate your country in terms of Public Understanding of Astronomy? Please include any other relevant information to motivate your choice.)

Phase 3

3. Astronomy in Schools:

(i) What governmental astronomy/science education and outreach programmes for schools take place (co-ordinated either by government departments or national facilities)?

Basic astronomy is a part of science curriculum of schools. Introductory lectures are delivered during World Space Week by SUPARCO and universities.

(ii) What non-governmental astronomy/science education and outreach programmes for schools take place (NGO activities or international programmes that your country is involved in?)

Astronomy awareness programs, star gazing and solar system observation are arranged for schools by few non-governmental astronomical societies.

(iii) Comment on the presence of astronomy in the school curriculum. Is it part of the school curriculum? Is it very prominent? What age groups?

It is a part of private schools curriculum (doesn’t teach as separate subject, include in the curriculum of general science) and not really prominent, for the age group 7 to 14

(iv) Comment on the status of astronomy/science in schools. Are there any specific challenges or setbacks? Sufficient number of students studying maths and science? General interest in maths/science/astronomy in schools?

Science is taught by competent teachers in schools but status of astronomy is very poor. Large number of students are studying math and science and showing great interest in these subjects.

(v) Self evaluation (according to the different phases above, how would you rate your country in terms of Astronomy in Schools? Please include any other relevant information to motivate your choice.)

Phase 4