ISLAMABAD, March 25: The Senate Standing Committee on Education and Science and Technology has sought greater attention to the promotion of research and development activities.

The committee made the observations on Saturday during its separate visits to the Pakistan Council for Renewable Energy Technologies (PCRET) and the National Physical Standards Laboratory (NPSL).

It was given detailed briefings on the overall working, performance and achievements of the PCRET and the NPSL.

The committee appreciated the restructuring of the Ministry of Science and Technology and hoped that the move would lead to better results.

Underlined the need for addressing problems being faced by organisations working for the promotion of science and technology, it called for providing conducive environment to the scientists and researchers for optimum utilisation of their abilities and skills in the country for a better tomorrow.

It urged the ministry to set up institutes for imparting training in different marketable trades, especially renewable energy technologies, which would also help alleviate poverty. In his briefing, the ministry of science and technology secretary, Pervez Butt, highlighted the importance of energy in the industrial and technological advancement. He said upgradation and establishment of state-of-the-art research and development facilities was the need of the hour to meet growing energy needs. Shortage of qualified technical manpower and poor service structure are the main hurdles that hampered the pace of work, he added.—Online