ISLAMABAD, Sept 8: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali on Monday said the government was giving top priority to the development of science and technology to bring Pakistan on a par with developed countries.

“We cannot live in isolation, therefore, in the era of resurgence, the government is trying to make Pakistan scientifically advanced,” the prime minister said while speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the 8th symposium on Advanced Materials, here at the National Library Auditorium.

The three-day symposium has been organized by Khan Research Laboratories. It was attended by a larger number of scientists and experts from abroad and within the country.

The prime minister said the glorious Muslim past could only be revived through progress in the fields of science and technology.

“The world around us is rapidly changing and the progress in science and technology has ushered in a new thinking. The study and availability of advanced materials has brought about revolutionary changes in providing better health facilities, reliable communications and better transport services,” he said.

He cited a UN report which showed a yawning gap between the haves and have-nots, and urged the scientists to work towards bridging this gap.

The government, the prime minister said, was committed to bringing about a positive change in the lifestyle of the people, but it could not be done without advancement in science and technology.

“Progress cannot be made through borrowed goods and items and there is no option but to seek transfer of technology, if we want to join the list of developed countries,” he said.

He said: “We can have many more Dr A.Q. Khans and other scientists and people in other fields if we continue to work towards scientific progress.”

“Pakistan is willing to learn; it does not matter whether we learn from the east or the west, but we should always look forward towards gaining knowledge from wherever we can,” he said.

Mr Jamali said the symposium would provide an opportunity for “meaningful interaction” with the scientists from around the world. He urged the scientists and engineers to continue working for the overall betterment of the humanity.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr A.Q. Khan said the impact of materials on human society had always been multi-dimensional and decisive in its advancement and growth.

“In Pakistan, some major projects are being undertaken in the sector of energy and transportation which, in turn, imposes pressing demands on relevant advanced materials,” he said.

The KRL chairman, Dr J.A. Mirza, said the materials’ scenario in Pakistan awaited a more cohesive and integrated approach, specially in the wake of significant changes on the international level.

He said in Pakistan, the market was no longer defined in terms of domestic competition, but had become open to foreign competition as well. “The result of this new orientation is that it has become ever more difficult to find ways for research to be passed on through the development, production and application channel, and ultimately into the hands of the consumers,” he said.

The secretary of the symposium, Dr A.A. Mazhar informed the participants that some 14 oral and two poster sessions would be arranged in the symposium.

The oral session will commence with a keynote lecture to be delivered by an expert in the field. There will be 14 keynote lectures of 40 minutes each, 49 oral presentations of 20 minutes each and 143 posters to be presented by researchers from 20 countries.