ISLAMABAD, June 4: The Senate Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Research on Thursday underlined the need for developing a national strategy to enhance quality assurance and increase productivity.

The meeting was presided over by the chairperson of the committee, Senator Razina Alam Khan. The committee called upon the government to allocate more funds for building the base and strengthen institutions dedicated to scientific research with a view to achieving the desired national objectives.

These observations were made by the committee during a briefing on the organizational structure of the Ministry of Science and Technology and its attached departments.

Prof Dr Attaur Rehman, minister in charge of science and technology, informed the meeting that the S&T ministry was striving to promote research activities. He said 13 autonomous organizations, dealing with science and technology, research and development, were engaged in implementing the programme.

He said it had been the endeavour of the government to use S&T as an engine for development. He said it was shocking to know that Pakistani universities had produced only a limited number of PhDs in the last two decades.

He said as a result of greater emphasis on the development of science and research, nearly 1,200 to 1,500 scientists and engineers would get their PhDs during the next five years and they would help build a sound base for scientific and technological development.

He also told the committee that all out efforts were being made to strengthen various research institutions in the country and 11 institutions were being developed as centres of excellence.

The committee was informed that a technology cluster centre for fan industry in Gujrat and a cluster centre for bed-sheets and upholstery products in Multan had been set up with public- private partnership.