ISLAMABAD, June 14: The government plans to develop local technology to increase the pace of import substitution and promote exports.

Officials told this correspondent on Thursday that the government was planning to upgrade and modernise workshops of the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) in Karachi. They said it was vital for import substitution.

The idea is to help strengthen country’s R&D base for which the federal government will provide Rs165 million, out of Rs1.5 billion block provision for other R&D activities.

The objective is to help the industry overcome technical problems and reduce overhead costs.

It will also help in undertaking training programmes besides seeking orders for courses from educational institutions.

Owing to growing expansion in laboratory activities and increase in outdoor clientele, the space facilities and machine tools have become inadequate. In a letter to the Planning Commission, the PCSIR’s authorities informed that that the there was a need to carry out extension and renovation of workshop, including its existing workshop building.