Govt earmarks only Rs2m for research & development

Science and technology ministry scoffs at the allocation

ISLAMABAD: The government has allocated Rs2 million to the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) for Research and Development (R&D) for the year 2016-17 against its demand for Rs20 million.

While talking to The Express Tribune an official of the science and technology ministry said, “The amount allocated for R&D is peanuts.” With this meagre amount, the official said, it is not even possible to carry out research in a small district.



“It is a fact that Pakistan has already crossed the water scarcity line in 2005 and if this situation continues then the country will face a drought-like situation,” he said.



He was of the view that considering the ongoing situation in the country it is very important to carry out research in this field to find out ways to deal with the situation. “Without investing in R&D, it is not possible for a country to progress,” said the official.

“PCRWR has already asked the government for the creation of endowment funds within PCRWR to ensure the sustainability of research and development activities, and for this purpose the council has sought Rs50 million from the government,” said the official.



Lubna Bokhari, Director General National Water Quality Laboratory, PCRWR said that there is a shortage of funds for R&D and the amount allocated is too meagre.

“But, on the other hand, the government has allocated funds  to the PCRWR for various projects under the Public Sector Development Programme for the fiscal year 2016-17 and hopefully these projects, once completed, will serve the purpose,” she said.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 8^th, 2016.