Unlike the perception of a layperson, biotechnology is not only about working in a laboratory in a white lab coat and preparing medicines to improve the quality of life. The field is so wide that it has many career options from sales and marketing to research and development, to the production and quality management of medicines and medical devices.
In the field of biotechnology, technologies are combined with the biological sciences, such as agriculture, food science, waste management, medicine and mining, although biotechnology has existed since ancient times, the first advancement in the field of food science, which took place about 5000 BC. A large number of different strains of plants and animals were hybridized to obtain a greater variety of species.
Biotechnology has been applied to create new biodegradable material, transfer a specific gene from one organism to another, preserve and grow genetically homogeneous cultures of plant and animal cells, and also merge heterogeneous cell types to produce new drugs, such as monoclonal antibodies. Given the importance of biotechnology in Pakistan, a separate organization was created called the National Commission on Biotechnology, which initiated several projects in various fields of biotechnology, mainly in the health and agriculture sectors.
Some of the many educational institutions in Pakistan offer courses in biotechnology:
- Department of Biotechnology, Karachi University
- National Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBA), Faisalabad
- Department of Biochemistry, Rawalpindi University of Arid Agriculture
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Punjab
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Peshawar
- Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, NWFP Agricultural University, Peshawar
The recent boom in the IT sector has also paved the way for biotechnology, and now there is a huge potential for biotechnology in Pakistan.
Eligibility for entry into the graduation program:
Students who want to get a place in the biotechnology curriculum after their intermediate level should complete their HSC in pre-medical, advanced or computer science.
Jobs in biotechnology in Pakistan:
The combination of computer science and biology, called bioinformatics, has created various opportunities for people in the field of biotechnology. Now many of our graduates work either in private companies or in research organizations.
Some of the many sectors where biotechnology opportunities exist are health, environment, agriculture, and food technology. Biotechnology jobs can be regularly seen in Pakistan’s national daily newspapers. For those who want to pursue a career in the field of biotechnology, it is necessary to know the difference between biotechnology and biomedical engineering.
Biomedical engineering deals with the application of technical principles, while biotechnology is associated with biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology and biophysics.
In Pakistan there are separate institutions for biomedical engineering. Among them
- NED University of Engineering and Technology
- Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology
For our biotechnologists in private companies, there are tremendous opportunities, and they are paid reasonable benefits.
