THE Global Innovation Index (GII) ranked Pakistan 87th on a list of 132 countries a couple of years ago. The research and development (R&D) scene in Pakistan is at a low ebb today due to a meagre budget, which undermines industrial growth in the country.

Currently, Pakistan lags far behind other countries in innovation that could have helped it overcome its economic woes. On the other hand, India stood at the 46th position on the same list. India’s focus and sufficient expenditure on R&D had put it among top innovators in information technology (IT) and even in space technology in Central Asia and South Asia.

Pakistan has immense potential and technical knowledge, but it struggles due to government’s inattention. Recently, the country had to use Chinese facilities to manage a space mission.

Although the mission was successful, the country’s ineffectiveness as well as weakness in R&D became more evident to the world. It showed that Pakistan, despite being a nuclear state, is incapable of developing its own facility to launch a satellite.

Moreover, as per a report of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) Institute of Statistics, Pakistan spends a mere 0.16 per cent of its total gross domestic product (GDP) on R&D.

Pakistan surely needs to shun its utter neglect of this vital sector, set its priorities right, and spend generously on R&D. Only then can Pakistan flourish and compete with the rest of the world.

M.S. Sodhar
Larkana

Published in Dawn, October 18th, 2024