PARIS -  Pakistan’s International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS) has officially become the category-II partner of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

The partnership agreement was signed between UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova and ICCBS Director Dr Iqbal Choudhary in an impressive ceremony held at the UNESCO’s head quarter on Monday. The ceremony was witnessed by the Ambassador of Pakistan to France, Moinul Haque and former federal minister Prof Dr Attaur Rahman, founding member of the Centre.

The UNESCO director general termed the signing of the said agreement as a historical occasion and appreciated the research work done by the institute in the fields of basic and applied sciences. Dr Iqbal briefed the UNESCO DG about history and work of the Centre. He said that ICCBS was among the leading centers of excellence in chemical, biological and biochemical sciences in Pakistan. It was serving as a center for research and training of scholars from various countries of the world. The facilities at ICCBS were at par with research establishments in the West.

The ICCBS was approved as Category-II institute by UNESCO, Executive Board in October, 2015 and by the General Conference of UNESCO in November, 2015 after thorough evaluation, and fulfilling the elaborate criterion of quality assurance and assessment of its technical and research facilities.

ICCBS is the 3rd Pakistani Institution to be honoured as a centre of excellence by UNESCO in the last two years. Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the south (COMSATS) and Regional Water Research Centre on Hydrology of Headwater Catchments, are already designated as of Category-II institutes of UNESCO.