LAHORE, Dec 1: Scientist and former chairman of the Higher Education Commission Dr Attaur Rehman has criticised the government for reduction in science and technology and higher education budget.

“Our neighbour India is spending $60 billion annually on biotechnology while our government has decreased budget for science and technology and higher education. In 2002 the science and technology budget was Rs6 billion which has now been reduced to only Rs1 billion,” he said, adding the government had abolished the National Commission of Science which was very unfortunate.

He was addressing the 8th Convocation of the University of Management and Technology (UMT) here on Saturday.Attaur Rehman said Pakistan had about 100 million people below the age of 19. This demographic advantage could be used for socio-economic development if the country focused its policies on science, technology, innovation and entrepreneurship that created job opportunities for the young.

He said only 59 universities and degree awarding institutes were in Pakistan in 2000, and the number grew to 137 by 2010.

“Pakistan has made tremendous progress in terms of higher education in recent years due to the steps taken to improve the quality of education and make it relevant to national needs. These included programmes to develop a strong faculty; scholarships for completion of PhD degrees in both local and foreign universities, new system of tenure track appointments and salary raise for faculty members.