UNESCO

UNESCO has the vision to promote science for economic, social and cultural development of nations and foster peace and development for a sustainable future of the developing countries.

PSF and UNESCO have longstanding collaboration in promoting science culture in Pakistan, especially popularization of science in remote areas of the country.

Support for Science:
Since 2002, PSF in collaboration with UNESCO is celebrating the World Science Day for Pace and Development on November 10 every year. On this day, various activities for students and scientists are being organized. Main activities include Convention of Scientists, Science Caravan Exhibitions, Panel Discussions on TV channels and Prize Distribution among winners of the PSF Annual Inter Board Science Essay and Poster Competitions etc. UNESCO also provided science kits for rural area schools to strengthen their laboratories.

Association for Conservation of Nature:
Conserving nature and natural resources is an important domain of UNESCO through knowledge sharing and best practices for the projected impact of climate change on weather, economies, agriculture, wetlands, biodiversity, natural resources and ecosystems. PSF and UNESCO Islamabad, in collaboration with UNDP jointly held the sixth international meeting of the South and Central Asia Man and Biosphere Network (SACAM) in Islamabad on November 03, 2014. Moreover, as result of the UNESCO support the Lal Sohanra National Park located in Cholistan Desert and the Juniper Forest of Ziarat, believed to be the second largest juniper Forest of its kind in the world, were declared as a “Biosphere Reserves” in 1977 and 2013 respectively.

UNESCO help in Developing Virtual Tour of PMNH:
UNESCO donated Audio Commentary equipments to Pakistan Museum of Natural History (PMNH), the only natural history museum of Pakistan, which is a subsidiary of PSF, for facilitating the visitors to the Museum galleries through live commentary in Urdu and English about the different displays. The main purpose of this facility, which is a pilot project, is to help PMNH in developing its online virtual tour to facilitate people of the entire world. The UNESCO Director inaugurated this facility on March 13, 2013. Especially the researchers and students are benefiting from this donation. UNESCO also supported PMNH in preparation of Whale Shark display and production of a documentary on it. PMNH has been declared as focal point of UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere (MAB) program for conservation of nature.

PASTIC and UNESCO joint System to Support Information Sharing:
UNESCO developed a model UNISIST (United Nations International Scientific Information System) and a program ASTINFO (UNESCO-PGI), for sharing and exchange of information on scientific publications, research journals as well as conducting trainings on information handling and management by arranging seminars and workshops etc.

Pakistan Scientific and Technological Information Centre (PASTIC) was designated as a “Focal Point” in Pakistan for UNISIST in 1974 and for ASTINFO (UNESCO-PGI) in 1983. This co-operative program launched by UNESCO is aimed at promoting the exchange of information and experience in Science and Technology in Asia/Pacific Region. It consists on co-coordinating units in 18 member states. Since becoming the focal point to ensure the aims and objectives of UNISIST and ASTINFO (UNESCO-PGI), PASTIC successfully organized three international training workshops, seminars with the support of UNESCO in 1998 and 2000.