ISLAMABAD, Feb 21: The government will work with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (Unido) to prepare technology for rapid industrialization and development of the country.

The decision to this effect was taken during the second meeting of Pakistan Technology Board here on Saturday. The meeting was presided over by Minister In charge for Science and Technology Prof Attaur Rehman.

Speaking to the participants, the minister said reforms introduced in the S&T sector during the last few years had shown visible improvement in the working of some major research and development organizations.

The minister said following the directives of Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali, his ministry was preparing a national development vision using S&T. The strategy will be submitted to the government in April 2004 for approval and inclusion in the national development plans, he added.

He asked the Pakistan Council of Scientific Research (PCSIR) chairman to focus on setting up testing and calibration services to help industrial sector meet WTO challenges. The chairman was also instructed to concentrate on human resource development.

The minister said some technologies had been developed that could expedite industrial development. However, due to a risk factor involved, industrialists were reluctant to adopt these technologies. "The government needs to give some incentives to the private sector to adopt these technologies," he added.

The minister constituted a committee to recommend the incentive to be given to promote the new technologies.

The board was informed that the PCSIR had developed 226 processes, obtained 23 technological patents, published 325 scientific papers and served 5,000 industries annually. At present, the organization is serving over 4,000 SMEs/clients annually all over the country in quality control, analytical and testing areas.

It is dealing in exports of surgical/sports goods, food items, leather, textile, technical and analytical consultancy services to local industry (survey, feasibility, value additions), chemical products and materials for local industry, meteorological services to the industrial sector, screening of medicines for customs etc.

The board was informed that the PCSIR had developed automatic dye bath for textile industry to increase the quality of shades. It has also developed technology for utilization of local graphite raw material for making value added products.

The organization has also established rubber testing facilities and developed low-cost laboratory equipment. In addition to this, it has developed a new technology for livestock feed.

The meeting was also attended by senior officers of the ministries of S&T, and industries and production, Dr Carlos E. Chanduvi-Suarez, representative of UNIDO, and representatives of private sector and Engineering Development Board. Dr Khakan Hassan, chairman of Pakistan Standard Quality Control Authority, and PCSIR chairman Dr Anwarul Haq also made presentations about the performance and future of their organizations.