In an upcoming budget government is focusing on Science and technology as well. PHOTO: REUTERS
The government and cabinet might claim to be working for the promotion of science in the country, but facts suggest otherwise.
Much like the previous year, the government has made a drastic cut in the development budget for the upcoming fiscal year and has failed to approve a single new project for the science and technology ministry.
According to the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2015-16, around Rs1.06 billion have been approved for 20 old and only two new projects for the ministry and slashed 64 other proposed projects across the country.
Interestingly, the two new projects --- establishment of a Technology Park in Islamabad and certification incentive programme for small and medium-sized enterprises --- are now part of the Higher Education Commission’s development budget.
The planning commission has shelved the ministry’s Rs3 billion development budget proposals for 87 development projects, but the commission had agreed to settle on only about Rs1 billion for all the ongoing projects.
In an internal meeting last week, Minister for Science and Technology Rana Tanveer Hussain expressed concern over the budget allocation. “An allocation of 0.2 per cent of gross domestic product for research and development is negligible,” he was quoted as saying in a press release issued by the ministry.
Similarly, last year’s PSDP documents reveal that the amount allocated is declining with the passage of every fiscal year.
In 2012-13 Rs1.3 billion were proposed for 66 projects, Rs2.1 billion in 2013-14 for 54 projects, while for 13 new and 18 ongoing projects in 2014-15, Rs903 million were approved by the government. The actual releases were even less than the amount approved in the documents.
The shelved projects were related to nanotechnology, biotechnology, solar and hydel power, but they failed to impress planning commission officials.
Science and Technology Secretary Kamran Ali Qureshi expressed displeasure over the government’s attitude towards research and development. “There are just talks and meetings, nothing more,” he told The Express Tribune, adding that organisations where only salaries are paid and not a penny is spent on development should be shut down.
He commented that government urged them to encourage industry and research linkages, but in reality, companies were avoiding them because “they say collaboration without finance is useless.”
As a result, he stated scientists and doctors were leaving the country because there is no research work and culture in the country.
The lack of funding is taking a toll on research projects such as Pakistan Council for Research in Water Resources (PCRWR). The Rs1 billion project has 204 employees to monitor the provision of safe drinking water in 24 cities, and lack of funding would seal their fate.
“Similarly, all 14 research and development organisations under the ministry are also short of funds as there is a difference between claims and work on the ground,” the secretary concluded.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 4th, 2015.
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