SWABI, Sept 24: NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani has said that the Muslim world can compete with the West if it concentrates on science and technology.

He was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of Softcom 2004 competition at the Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology here on Friday.

If Muslim states wanted emancipation from the West, they must develop science and give due importance to this field, he said. "There is no dearth of talent in the Islamic world but there is a need to put the young generation on the right track," he said.

The Muslim countries have been lagging behind in the field of science and technology, resulting in their exploitation and backwardness, he said. He, however, reminded the audience that Muslims were the real founders of modern science.

"The Greeks introduced science but could not move further ahead. All the later amazing successes were achieved by Muslim scientists. The experimental and research work was done by the Arabs," he said.

The Islamic civilisation had produced distinguished figures, he said. He cited names of some eminent scientists and spoke of the remarkable achievements they had attained.

"Those who study modern history know full well about Muslim scientists," he said. Today's world is of science and technology and only those nations can achieve their goals of economic progress who boost scientific research and attain technological know-how, the chief minister said.

It is the responsibility of our institutions and academics to produce scientists of high calibre, enabling the country to stand on its own feet, he said.