RAWALPINDI, Sept 26: The provincial agriculture minister, Khursheed Zaman Qureshi, has underlined the need for promoting scientific culture in the country to overcome increasing poverty, hunger and malnutrition.

He was speaking at the third international science conference held at the University of Arid Agriculture (UAA) here on Thursday.

“Science culture is a pre-requisite for solving the multi- faceted socio-economic problems prevailing in the country today,” the minister said.

Pakistan, he added, needs more scientists and engineers for bringing industrial revolution. He appreciated the role of the UAA in promoting education in general and arid agriculture in particular.

Earlier, in his welcome remarks, Prof Khalid Mahmood of the university said inter-disciplinary research had become a norm of the UAA. Scientists from various disciplines work together to find solutions to the problems that emerge with mutual coordination, he added.

He mentioned with regret the continuing brain drain issue and urged the scientists to develop national spirit and work with more dedication in the country instead of opting for going abroad in search of material benefits.

Speaking on the occasion, the chairman of the National Commission on Biotechnology, Dr Anwar Nasim, delivered lectures in the plenary session.

The gist of his well-researched papers was that biotechnology and genetic engineering needed to be strengthened for the promotion of latest scientific theories in the country.

Mr Nasim said the National Commission on Biotechnology had been working for the development of protocols and legislation for the genetically-modified crops.

He also dilated on the status of biotechnology and genetic engineering and its future scope in Pakistan. He said development of human resources in the field of biotechnology and genetic engineering needed special emphasis.