ISLAMABAD, Aug 11: President Pervez Musharraf on Friday expressed the government’s resolve to put Pakistan on the world map of space-faring nations and asked the Suparco to develop the country’s capacity to develop and launch communication, remote sensing, meteorological and other types of satellites.
“We expect SUPARCO to deliver as the PAEC, NESCOM and KRL delivered in nuclear and missile fields,” he said while speaking at the passing-out of the first batch of BSc students of Institute of Space Technology (IST) in highly-specialized disciplines of aeronautical and aeronautical engineering and communication systems engineering. He underlined the need to explore space and bring its benefits to the people of the country.
The president noted that the country’s space programme had been neglected by various governments and there was not enough funding for its development.
However, the government provided necessary finances to all research and strategic organisations to achieve the desired objectives, he added.
The government also brought SUPARCO under the umbrella of the National Command Authority, at par with other strategic organisations, while realising the immense potential that space offers in the socio-economic development and security of the country.
President Musharraf described development of human resources as the key to the country’s future success in all fields, including space technology and applications.
“We are trying our best to improve the quality of education to the grassroots and enhance human resources. That is the future,” he added.
In this respect, the president referred to the PhD programmes and said the government was targeting to produce 1,500 PhDs every year by 2010 to improve the faculty.
He underscored the need of focusing on science and technology and transform the country into a knowledge-based economy.
President Musharraf said the progress in science and technology had helped the country in its quest of indigenisation, leading to reduced cost of products.
He noted with satisfaction that Pakistan was moving on the path of knowledge-based economy, and added, its benefits will follow and continue snow-balling in the long-term.
He announced grant of Rs500 million for IST in the first stage and a similar amount in the second stage to help the organisation achieve its objectives.
Chairman Higher Education Commission Dr Atta-ur-Rehman highlighted the magnanimous support being provided to IST in the form of induction of highly-qualified foreign faculty, provision of funds for strengthening of human resources, PhD scholarships and other infrastructure facilities.
Federal ministers, services chiefs, senior government officials and faculty of the Institute, besides parents and relatives of graduating students attended the first commencement ceremony.
