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ISLAMABAD, Oct 30: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has started a programme to help public sector universities establish higher education links with US research institutes.
The programme aims at exchanging visits of researchers, scientists, academics, engineers, technocrats and specialists to upgrade institutions of higher learning in Pakistan with latest scientific trends and advancements being made around the world, particularly in higher education sector.
In this regard, a scheme — Pak-US Faculty Development Programme — worth Rs25 million has been approved by the commission, said an official statement.
The objectives of the programme include cooperation in the field of science and technology, which would be made effective through such a means as exchange of visits of researchers, scientists, academics, engineers, technocrats and specialists as well as scientific and technological information and documentation.
Joint seminars, workshops and training courses in the fields of mutual interest would also be conducted. During such research projects, the main thrust of cooperation would be on biotechnology, information technology, engineering sciences, pharmaceuticals and chemicals, mineral sciences, oceans resources, desertification control and renewable energy resources.
The HEC will be the focal point of the projects while all public sector universities will submit project proposals to it and the joint committee will select the projects and review their progress and output.
The joint meeting of the committee would be held annually in Pakistan and the US while review meetings of the Pakistani side would be held twice a year.
The services of Pakistan embassy at Washington DC would be used for international liaison.
All prominent R&D organizations which are capable of international collaboration due to well-placed infrastructure and trained/experienced manpower would be involved in this programme.
JOINT RESEARCH FUND: A statement of the ministry of science and technology said on Thursday that Pakistan and the US have set up a Pak-US a Joint Research Fund worth Rs120 million for undertaking joint projects in science and technology.
In this regard, an agreement had already been signed between the two countries during President Musharraf’s visit to the US last year.
The Pakistan side component of the fund has been created with an allocation of Rs60 million. The ministry of science and technology and the Higher Education Commission have allocated a sum of Rs30 million each, whereas the US government will earmarked $2 million or more.
The Fund is to be a revolving one. It will be replenished each year according to the expenditure incurred in previous fiscal year. The ministry of science will make appropriate allocation in its annual budget estimates for the purpose.
It has been mutually agreed that all activities carried in Pakistan under the programme will be financed from the Pakistan portion of the fund, whereas those carried out in the US will be financed by the US. This arrangement would avoid transfer of funds between the two countries.
The Pakistan-US joint committee on science and technology cooperation will meet periodically to review progress of implementation of the ongoing projects and decide the future project programmes of cooperation.
