ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Science and Technology Shibli Faraz on Wednesday said that National Radio and Telecommunication Corporation (NTRC) had lessened the burden on the sector health by fixing out-of-order ventilators.

During his visit to the NTRC, Mr Faraz said the facility has made 109 faulty ventilators usable during the pandemic. The minister was given a detailed briefing on current research and equipment being developed at the institute while he visited various sections of it.

He was informed that the company has full capability to manufacture world class ventilators and was awaiting confirmation from Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap) in this regard.

Two prototypes of electronic voting machines have been prepared and they will soon be presented to the prime minister for inspection, the minister was told.

The future of Pakistan is related to science and research, Mr Faraz said, adding: “We as a nation must move forward in this field so that we can make Pakistan one of the developed countries.”

He said transparent elections were important for strengthening democracy in the country and use of technology in this regard was an important need of the hour.

Under the directions of Prime Minister Imran Khan, the Ministry of Science and Technology is fully committed towards ensuring the use of technology in elections.

He stressed on the need to ensure transparency and common sense in the manufacture of electronic voting machines as this would earn the trust of political parties, institutions and the people.

The secret of the system’s success lies in ensuring that votes are not stolen, he added.

It is great that NRTC now has the capability to manufacture world class ventilators, he said.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2021