ISLAMABAD, July 15: Pakistan and the United States (US) can launch collaborative projects in various science and technology (S&T) fields like training of scientists, engineers and students through workshops, research and development in natural sciences, environmental and biodiversity protection, energy and health, and expansion of telemedicine capabilities.

This was stated by Norman P Neureiter, science and technology adviser to the US secretary of state, while talking to reporters here at the American Centre on Tuesday. He left for the US in the evening.

He said both the US and Pakistan needed to address security issues to build better relationships between the scientists of the two countries through frequent exchange programmes. He said he would recommend putting aside sensitive issues like nuclear sciences, which strained the relationship between the two countries in the field of S&T in the past.

“Science and technology is a very large subject in which the restricted areas are very few,” he observed.

About the restriction of visas for Pakistani students doing PhDs, he conceded that after 9/11, strict legislations had been enacted, but this was not only for Pakistan. He said people were still coming and the students should keep on applying, but well in time.

Dr Neureiter also mentioned the $3 million fund allocated under an agreement signed on S&T cooperation during President Pervez Musharraf’s visit to the US.

Out of the total amount, USAID provided $2 million to support activities under the S&T agreement, while Pakistan was putting in $1 million as its contribution towards the programme.

The US and Pakistani agencies are exploring possible activities under the agreement in fields like technology, engineering and educational activities of mutual interest.

Emphasis will be laid on cooperation to expand economic development, public education, health care, technical capacity and stimulation of public-private partnerships through S&T.

The adviser said many activities under the agreement would involve US technical agencies working with similar agencies in Pakistan.

Impressed by the variety of mangoes available in Pakistan, he said avenues could also be explored to export mangoes to the US. He said an endowment fund for research in bio-technology through Pakistan Science Foundation was being established.

Dr Attaur Rehman, the minister in charge of S&T, said it was for the first time, that the US and Pakistan were talking about S&T cooperation. Under the agreement, he said, Pakistani and US scientific institutions would establish links, besides avenues would be explored to improve environmental conditions etc.

He said he had also proposed setting up a big institution, like Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Technology, with the American assistance in the country.

Dr S.T.K. Naim, chairperson of Pakistan Council for Science and Technology, recalled that both Pakistan and the US shared a history of collaboration in S&T during 1950s and 1960s when 7,800 scientists were trained in agriculture sciences, who brought green revolution in Pakistan.

These scientists helped a lot in brining new variety of crops, she said, but deplored that Pakistani institutions suffered immensely during the last decade, when sanctions were imposed.