01 May 2004	Saturday	10 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1425

ISLAMABAD, April 30: The National Engineering and Scientific Commission (Nescom), Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF) and Sohrab on Friday entered into an agreement to design and develop bicycle and auto-rickshaws.

The memorandum of understanding was signed during a ceremony in which PSF has also formed an inter-ministerial focus group comprising the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST), Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Defence Production (MoDP), Ministry of Industries and Production (MIP), PSF, Pakistan Council for Scientific and Industries Research (PCSIR), Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), Nescom, Dr A.Q. Khan Research Laboratories (KRL), Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT), Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF) and Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) Kamra.

Nescom, PSF and Sohrab have teamed up to design and then market widely used commercial products. Bicycles and rickshaws will be designed by Nescom and manufactured and marketed by Sohrab while PSF will coordinate and facilitate.

The purpose of forming this group is to link public-sector technological capability with private sector marketability for socio-economic development. A directory of the available services has also been prepared.