ISLAMABAD, March 16: Science and technology can play a key role in the socio-economic development of any country and there is a need to invest more in this sector so that the quality of life may be improved.

This was stated by the minister in charge for science and technology, Dr Attaur Rehman, while inaugurating a two-day Inter-Academy Panel (IAP) Meeting of National Science Academies of OIC Member States here on Tuesday.

The meeting has been organized jointly by the Pakistan Academy of Sciences, OIC Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation and Third World Academy of Sciences, Italy and Higher Education Commission.

Dr Atta said the countries having technology were progressing at a good pace compared to those which could not pay due attention towards this sector. Even the countries with immense natural resources are facing poverty and deprivation problems because they had not invested enough in the education sector, the minister added.

"We are focussing on the development of basic sciences, human resource development, strengthening of infrastructure at universities and R&D institutions, launching of programmes having applications for common men, enabling environment for R&D activities and linkages between R&D activities and industrialization."

He said today's world was a knowledge-driven place and the countries having knowledge and using their skilled manpower in the industry were ruling the world. He also underlined the need for active collaboration among science academies as an imperative to discuss science-related problems of the OIC region from a joint platform.

He said many OIC states had science academies, however, no attempt was made in the past to bring these academies together to discuss science-related development problems of the region.

Talking about various ongoing projects of the HEC, Dr Atta said, the commission had connected all the major universities of the country through fibre. "These universities are now making full use of this facility by developing contents and sharing it over this educational internet."

A number of other participants appreciated the holding of such a meeting. The meeting will be addressed by 25 representatives from various countries. A network of science academies of OIC countries will be formed during the meeting.