PESHAWAR: The final round of the grand science and technology competition opened Tuesday at the Nishtar Hall where 450 projects were put on display.

Students from school to university level and even common people were taking part in the competition. The projects pertaining to different science disciplines are in the competition from which 10 top projects would be selected in the final round — grand finale — tomorrow (Thursday).

The second round is being held today to select projects for the final. Experts from the respective disciplines are acting as judges and would adjudge the winners of the competition, said Khalid Khan, provincial director of the Science and Technology Department, while talking to The News.

The event has been organised by the Directorate of Science and Technology. “It is solely our indigenous effort. Nobody has extended funds or other support to us for arranging this event to encourage promotion of science and technology in the province,” he said.

Students from across the province are taking part in the competition. The directorate made proper boarding and lodging arrangements for them, he added. It was encouraging to see the young students taking part in the event. Once known for arrangement of cultural and musical shows, the Nishtar Hall was used perhaps for the first time for a purely academic and creative activity.

“This is definitely a positive activity. We must appreciate it. Such creative competitions should go on,” said a former secretary for education, who visited the competition and took interest in each and every stall.

There were students from Swat valley and also from the distant DI Khan district. Girl students from the restive Swat district had also managed to come for the event despite curfew and volatile situation in their native district.

Asad Khan from Swat, whose team has done a research work on various plants, trees and other species, was optimistic about securing a top position in the competition. He said it was a healthy activity. “This has not only provided us an opportunity to see the work done by our fellow students from other parts of the province and other institutions, but also encouraged us to take more active part in the co-curricular activities,” he remarked.

Among the competitors was Jamal Nasir, a matriculate who sells beans in his native town, Takhtbhai in Mardan district. He has manufactured a big mixer, which he has been using for crushing and mixing up edible items. Jamal Nasir had put the mixer/juicer on display and was attracting a large number of visitors. “A number of visitors have taken keen interest in my product. I could make the mixer on a large scale for use in big kitchens in hotels and elsewhere,” he said.The news