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Although the researchers and people from industry
were realizing the importance of vacuum technology,
proper training in this technology was not available
anywhere in the country. In these circumstances,
Dr. Javaid Ahsan Bhatti, took the lead and invited
those people working with various vacuum systems
belonging to research institutions and industries to
a meeting in the Hotel Best Western, Islamabad
on July 10, 1997. The meeting was chaired by
the most senior engineer, Late Mr. Nurul Mustafa.
The objective was to prepare a program to hold a
national course on vacuum technology, first time in
Pakistan. The participants discussed the proposal
from Dr. Javaid Ahsan Bhatti to establish Pakistan
Vacuum Society (PVS) to safeguard the interests
of the vacuum technologists of the country. The
proposal was unanimously approved. The meeting
formed an ad hoc body under the Presidentship of
Dr. F. H. Hashmi (the founder President), Mr. Nurul
Mustafa (Vice President), Mr. Javaid Ahsan Bhatti
(Secretary General), and Mr. M. Amin Sabir
(Secretary Finance) with the task to prepare the
society statutes and by-laws and complete the
initial organizational work. This body formulated
the by-laws of the society and completed the
groundwork spade work in a short span of time an
year. The objectives of the society were defined as
dissemination of the knowledge of vacuum science
and technology and it’s applications through
seminars, workshops, conferences and training
programs for the benefit of people engaged in the
scientific, educational and industrial institutions of
the country.
Meanwhile, PVS successfully conducted the first
National Course on Vacuum Technology in 1997.
After the enthusiastic response of the participants,
the membership of the society increased from
12 founding members to 60 life and 26 annual
members within six months of its establishment.
PVS is a non-Goverment, non-profit, scientific
body registered with the Registrar Joint Stock
Companies, Government of Pakistan, Islamabad
Capital Territory, under No. RS/ICT/286 of 1998
dated June 3, 1998. It has also been registered
with the Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF) and
Pakistan Council for Science and Technology
(PCST), Govt. Of Pakistan for financial assistance.
On the occassion of the establishment of PVS,
President of Pakistan, Mr. Muhammad Rafiq
Tarrer and Prime Minister, Mr. Nawaz Sharief sent
congratulatory messages to PVS management
and assured of the government support in
promoting the PVS cause.
Vacuum technology has been utilized in research, industrial institutions, and universities
in Pakistan since its inception in 1947. With the creation of a new country, the government
started focusing on modern technologies and new research institutions were established side
by side with industries. Only some individuals were available in the high tech laboratories of
the then Government College and now the Government College University, Lahore, to handle
the vacuum systems. As the use of vacuum technology expanded, more and more universities
started purchasing vacuum coating systems for research purposes. Still the trained manpower
in vacuum technology was very rare.
Participants of the VASSCAA-6 in Islamabad
PAKISTAN VACUUM SOCIETY (PVS)
Javaid Ahsan Bhatti