KARACHI: Prof Dr Atta-ur-Rahman, chairman of Prime Minister’s Task Force on Science and Technology, has said that we need to focus our efforts largely on establishing a strong knowledge-based economy.

Artificial intelligence is evolving at a fantastic pace in the world. It has been predicted that by 2030, computers will become more intelligent than humans and will take over many of our functions, he said.

The federal government has made a 600 per cent increase in its development budget of science and technology.

Prof Rahman, along with Prof Dr M. Iqbal Choudhary, director of the International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), and COMSTECH coordinator general was addressing a press conference held at the LEJ National Science Information Centre, ICCBS, University of Karachi on Monday.

KU institute organising international technology exhibition

Realizing the importance of biomedical devices and healthcare services, the ICCBS Technology Park and Technology Incubation Centre (ICCBS-TPTIC), in collaboration with OIC-COMSTECH is organizing a two-day COMSTECH ICCBS International Exhibition on Technology Enabled Healthcare Solutions in the premises of ICCBS on September 8-9.

Prof Rahman, who is also the patron-in-chief of ICCBS, said that for Pakistan to progress in the 21st century and become part of this fourth Industrial Revolution, we need to focus our efforts largely on establishing a strong knowledge-based economy.

The change requires the need for visionary leadership in Pakistan, he said, adding that Prime Minister Imran Khan has taken the first steps for such a transition by establishing the Knowledge Economy Task Force and funding many important projects through this initiative.

He said a silent revolution is taking place in the country as Knowledge Economy Task Force is set up to promote technology-driven economy with enhanced allocations to higher education, technical skills’ development of human resource, promotion of digitalization, promotion of artificial intelligence education and skills.

Different development projects worth Rs120 billion have been submitted, while some of them have been approved and are being implemented across the country, he said.

The objective of this exhibition on technology enabled healthcare solutions is to highlight the role of modern-day tools and equipment, which are commercially available, or developed as prototypes for commercialization, Prof Rahman mentioned.

‘NIV crosses 300,000 PCR-based tests’

Prof Choudhary, talking about the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, said that at this time of national need several academic and research institutions moved forward to contribute in meeting the health challenge of unprecedented magnitude. The ICCBS, Pakistan’s premier academic research institute, was the forerunner in this national service, he said.

He said that the National Institute of Virology at the Dr Panjwani Centre for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (PCMD) had crossed a staggering number of 300,000 PCR-based tests, and developed the capacity to conduct over 2,500 tests every day, the largest in the country, adding that chief minister of Sindh was personally monitoring the development of this lab.

“This international exhibition will bring a unique platform for innovators, technology developers and service providers, who are eager and ready to share experience and professional skills with participants of common interests in science, technology and innovation,” he said.

Published in Dawn, September 7th, 2021