26 September 2004	Sunday	10 Shaban 1425

KARACHI, Sept 25: Scientists and engineers should create trust in the private sector in order to make progress in research and development.

This was stated by the chairman of the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Dr Anwarul Haq, while speaking as chief guest at the inaugural session of the Techno Informative 2004 Conference on Technology, Engineering and Sciences here on Saturday. The moot was jointly organized by the Usman Institute of Technology and the Institute of Electronics and Electrical Engineers, students branch.

The PCSIR chief said that the private sector was not coming up to invest in the research and development. He said that nobody would invest unless he was convinced that he would get the return. He stressed that investment in research was necessary to make headway in country's progress.

He said that scientists and engineers should help in creating trust in the private sector so that it could bring the investment in research and development.

Dr Anwarul Haq was of the view that in order to avoid duplication of research, there should be an increased interaction among those who were working in the similar field and workshops and seminars should be organized for the very purpose.

He pointed out that since its inception, the PCSIR had developed 1,352 technologies out of which 1,127 were with the private sector. The PCSIR scientists and engineers had more than 58 national and international patents, he said.

It was pointed out that the PCSIR had been given about one billion rupees as annual budget during the last four years. In return, he said, the organization had given an economic impact of more than six billion rupees back to the country.

Speaking on the occasion, the vice-chancellor of NED university, Abul Kalam, said that there should be no classification between engineers and technologists.

The vice-chancellor also highlighted the significance of the liaison with the industry and pointed out that the NED university had introduced internships in the third year because of the burden on students in the fourth year of engineering studies. He was optimistic that the concept of internships for third year students would be developed in other institutions as well.

Engr Sohail Wajahat Siddiqui of Siemens Pakistan said that the engineers should also be good managers. He said that for the progress and development of any country, the engineering sector had a vital role to play. Citing the examples of Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong, he said that they made rapid headway after value addition of the engineering goods. He said that Pakistan could also make headway with value addition of engineering goods.

Dr Manzoor Ahmed spoke of the importance of the engineering. He said that broad-based education was not being imparted in local varsities and the courses that were offered were also deficient.

He was of the view that the Institute of Electronics and Electrical Engineers should help improve the engineering education in various disciplines. He also stressed the need of liaison with the industries and interfacing of students and industry.

UIT Director Salim Khan presented the vote of thanks. -APP