Karachi University introduces Diploma in Food Safety

Karachi, The Department of Food Science and Technology at the University of Karachi has declared that one-year Postgraduate Diploma in Food Safety and Controls would be started from this month at the department.

This will be under the European Union Funded Trade Related Technical assistance TRTA II program and executed by UNIDO. University of Karachi in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) will introduce this Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) in order to develop human resource for food sector in Pakistan.

It said that the diploma of the program would be recognized by Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland (REHIS), UK. A batch of 40 students per year and total 160 candidates would be competent during two years from 2012- 2014. The duration of the course will be one-year based on two semesters.

Chairperson department of Food Science and Technology said that food safety is a scientific discipline that teaches management, preparation, and storage of food in ways that prevent food borne illnesses. It was stated that in Pakistan, the food safety control system is weak.

The PGD-Food Safety and Controls is very inclusive in its contents and design will be more effective in producing technically sound and academically qualified experts, which will strengthen the trade capacity building process of the country, create employment by enhancing export, protect consumer by improving the safety status of food, facilitate Pakistan’s capacity to integrate into global trade and hence improve overall economy.

The candidates having Masters/BS four-year degree (16 years of education) in pure and applied Sciences will be eligible for admission. However, they will be required to appear in pre-entry test, containing of two components: general and technical. Final selection of candidates will be based on their entry test performance, academic record and interview, it was further stated.

The University of Karachi was established by an act of Pakistan parliament in June, 1951. The present campus, to which the University shifted in 1959, is spread over 1279 acres of land, situated 12 Km away from the city center.