ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday chaired a meeting to review progress on the establishment of `University of Engineering and Emerging Technologies’ at Prime Minister House.

The meeting discussed matters regarding the establishment of national centres of research, innovation and entrepreneurship in artificial intelligence and allied technologies, and major national human resources development programme.

Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry, Task Force on Science and Technology chairman Prof Dr Attaur Rehman, the science and technology secretary and other senior officials were present on the occasion.

Mr Chaudhry briefed the prime minister about various initiatives being taken by the science and technology ministry to promote scientific and technical education, encourage research and development activities and establish effective linkages between various government organisations and industry in the field of research.

Prof Rehman, while briefing the prime minister on the progress made by the task force, said that it had prepared a comprehensive knowledge economy policy document. He added that a document on improving the ease of doing business had also been prepared and would be shared with the Board of Investment. He said that the task force was also helping to establish effective linkages between FBR and Nadra in the area of tax collection.

The prime minister appreciated the efforts being made by Ministry of Science and Technology in promoting scientific and technical education and research. He directed that the aspect of value addition in the sphere of agriculture should be accorded priority.

He also approved a proposal presented by the minister to the Higher Education Commission chairman to select top 15 universities of the country after a due process and accord them elite university status.

Prime Minister Khan also ordered that the proposal to allow universities to undertake commercial projects based on their research products should be examined.

A national-level scholarship scheme for the deserving students was also discussed during the meeting. The prime minister observed that the scholarship schemes needed to be integrated and linked with Ehsaas Programme to enable deserving and competent students to complete their studies.

Published in Dawn, August 25th, 2019