ISLAMABAD, Nov 6: Secretary ministry of science and technology, Pervez Butt on Monday said on the directive of President Pervez Musharraf a plan was being prepared to invigorate scientific research in the country.

Speaking at a function at the Institute of Space Technology (IST), he said scientific progress in the country lagged behind and the government was not attuned to looking after it.

“Science is different and it should be manned by scientists alone,” he observed.

The function was organised by the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) in connection with the World Space Week. The international space week is celebrated between October 4 and 10 every year. The event was delayed in Pakistan due to Ramazan this year.

These two dates are significant in the calendar of space technology, as on October 4, 1957 the first artificial satellite Sputnik-I was launched by the then USSR, while on October 10, 1967, the UN Treaty of Principles governing the activities of states in the exploration and peaceful uses of outer space including the moon was signed.—JI