HYDERABAD: Rs2bn earmarked for uplift of basic sciences
Bureau Report
HYDERABAD, Feb 4: Federal Minister for Science and Technology Professor Dr Attaur Rehman has disclosed that the budget for the development of science and technology has been increased by 5,000 per cent during the last two years.
He was inaugurating a three-day second international and 12th national chemistry conference organized by the University of Sindh, Allama I.I. Kazi campus, Jamshoro, here on Monday.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Rehman said that we had a very wrong vision about development and had depended only on prime natural resources. The concept of progress had totally changed and the sooner we realized the fact the better it would be for us, he added.
He said that basic and applied sciences were necessary for industrial development and added that information technology was vital for development and progress of Pakistan.
He said that Rs2 billion had been earmarked for the development of basic sciences under the universities focus programme.
The programme included strengthening of indigenous PhD base within the country, split programme by sending the scholars abroad for PhD, post doctorate fellowship and the training of technicians abroad.
Dr Rehman said that 17 polytechnic institutes had been strengthened and the universities curricula had been revised.
He said that young scientists support programme had also been initiated for helping the young scholars in research.
The federal minister further said that the custom duty on scientific equipments had been totally abolished, as a result of which 40 to 50 per cent more funds would be available for the purchase of more scientific equipment for research, which was hitherto spent on the payment of custom duty.
He said that Rs2 billion had also been earmarked for the repair of equipment and added that 13 scientific societies had been strengthened by providing funds to them for holding symposia, seminars and workshops. About Rs70 to 80 million had been allocated to Sindh for the purchase of computers etc. The recurring expenditure for the universities had also been increased up to 400 per cent. Foreign professors would also be invited to deliver lecturers in the universities of Pakistan, he said.
About the development and promotion of information technology, the federal minister said that previously only 29 cities of Pakistan had been provided Internet facilities during ten years but during the last one and a half year 560 towns, cities and villages had been provided this facility.
Dr Rehman disclosed that profit of the PTCL had jumped to 35 per cent.
In his welcome speech, the vice chancellor, SU, Mazharul Haq Siddiqui, said that scientific research must aim at reducing the miseries of mankind and resolving their day-to-day problems such as hunger, disease, poverty, pollution and environment.
HYDERABAD, Feb 4: Federal Minister for Science and Technology Professor Dr Attaur Rehman has disclosed that the budget for the development of science and technology has been increased by 5,000 per cent during the last two years.
