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Science and technology vital for progress: Ata
THE deciding factors behind the progress and development of ruling economies are the ideas and technologies which emerge only from a broad-based application of science and technology (S&T).
This was stated by the minister in charge for science and technology, Dr Attaur Rehman, while inaugurating a five-day international seminar on ‘Urea Breath Test’, a convenient test for detection of peptic ulcer, organized by International Atomic Energy Agency, Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission and Higher Education Commission on Monday.
The minister said the key to prosperity laid in ideas and technologies generated by an educated and trained human resource of a country. He was appreciative of the PAEC for its multi-disciplinary research and development efforts towards economic development of the country and remarked that the PAEC’s contributions should be emulated.
The minister noted with dismay the quality of university education in the country where only 190 PhDs were being produced by all the institutions of the country as against 5,000 by India.
He was especially critical of higher training in engineering subjects which were so vital for industrial development and where at present only five to six PhDs were being produced.
The local PhD programmes are being strengthened for a competitive quality at par with their counterparts from abroad and added that attractive working environments/packages are being offered to lure back the Pakistani scientists working in other countries, he said.
There are about 300 such projects launched by the HEC for lifting the higher education qualitatively and quantitatively. Against a total outlay of Rs800 million for science and technology some year before, an allocation of Rs5,000 million existed at present and this is proposed to be raised to Rs9,500 million in the coming budget, he said.
Earlier, the PAEC chairman, Pervez Butt, in his welcome address, thanked the IAEA for sponsoring the seminar of great public importance and added that this scientific gathering was the sixth in recent weeks sponsored by IAEA for the socio- economic benefit of Pakistan.
Mr Butt said the IAEA was a big contributor towards the development of science and technology in Pakistan and remarked that Pakistan was the second largest recipient of technical assistance from the IAEA. He was pleased to note that Pakistanis regularly participated in all IAEA’s activities and, therefore, a good receiver of the IAEA aid. — Science-tech World Report
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