LAHORE, Jan 18: Higher Education Commission chairman Dr Attaur Rehman on Saturday termed the decision to join the World Trade Organization (WTO) premature, saying that Pakistan was not yet ready for that kind of open competition.

He was addressing a seminar on “Benefits of ISO-9001 Quality Management System in Enhancement of Industrial Productivity”, which had been arranged by the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR).

He said that by signing the WTO, Pakistan had committed itself to competing with the developed world in a free market economy. It was a mistake that must have been avoided. Unfortunately, the decision was irreversible.

Pakistanis must realise that knowledge has become central to human development while natural resources have lost their sheen. The 57 members of the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC), in spite of having 70 per cent of world oil reserves have less than half of the Japan’s gross domestic product (GDP). Turkey, one of the most developed Muslim countries, has a GDP of $185 billion. On the contrary, Austria, a small country of the size of Lahore, has a GDP of $250 billion. It is only because of knowledge and human development.

Pakistan has to go through many stages to reach the required level of development. In the first stage, it can copy all the required products and then make innovations. It is a painstakingly slow process but must be undertaken, Dr Atta said.