ISLAMABAD: Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry on Friday shared his plans with Prime Minister Imran Khan to establish an agricultural mechanical complex aimed at utilising new technologies to enhance yields.

The minister met the prime minister to discuss future initiatives in the field of science and technology.

He also briefed the prime minister about the Bio-technology Park in Jehlum and took up various administrative hurdles in its establishment.

He also informed the prime minister that the ministry also planned to transform all police stations in the capital city into high-tech establishments in six months.

“There is a need to modernise police stations across the country. However, we will start with ten police stations in Islamabad initially and turn them into high-tech setups,” Fawad Chaudhry said in a video message after his meeting with the prime minister.

However, he did not share how the government planned to modernise the police stations.

He assured that citizens would soon see how latest technologies would improve the police and the services it provides to the people.

The work on the pilot project of modernisation of police stations in Islamabad has started and would be completed in the next six months.

According to the minister, the Ministry of Science and Technology was now a brand name after necessary attention was given to it and its important role has been realized in combating the coronavirus pandemic.

Fawad Chaudhry also briefed the prime minister on the Made in Pakistan initiative and the numerous coronavirus fighting products that are being established under this programme.

He informed the prime minister that while face masks to protect against coronavirus are already being produced locally and are available in the market, other equipment such as ventilators and personal protective equipment (PPE) and testing kits will soon be manufactured by local industries using indigenous technologies.

Published in Dawn, May 9th, 2020