Exhibition: Science, technology ‘sine qua non for progress’, says minister

PESHAWAR:

Growth in science and technological sector is indispensable for putting the country on the road to progress. Minister for Science and Technology Muhammad Ayub Ashari, also the chief guest on the occasion, stated this at a one-day science and technology exhibition held at Pakistan Council of Science and Industrial Research (PCSIR) Laboratories Complex here on Thursday.

Ashari underscored the contribution of scientists in the progress of the nation as “remarkable”. He stressed upon scientists to work vigorously in undertaking research in Research and Development (R&D) organisations on modern scientific lines. He added that a liaison between public and private sector is the need of the hour in order to translate the true benefits of R&D to the masses. Ashari said that the purpose of the exhibition was to introduce research products of federal institutions at national and international level.

The exhibition was organised in collaboration with Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FPCCI). Federal institutions of science and technology including PCSIR, Pakistan Council for Research in Water Resources (PCRWR), Pakistan Council for Renewable Energy Technologies (PCRET), Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) and Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF) displayed different stalls at the exhibition.

Speaking on the occasion, Vice President FPCCI Akbar Khan also highlighted the importance of research, calling it the “backbone for development”. He said that owing to the law and order situation and energy crisis, only five per cent industries were functioning in the province. However, the government is taking pragmatic steps for running industries in the violence-hit province, he added.

Sharyar Khan, joint secretary of the Federal Ministry for Science and Technology, said that the establishment of a commercialisation section has enabled his unit to transfer technology of 14 processes to entrepreneurs during the last one and a half year. PCISR with its efforts has earned the country much foreign exchange, he said.

Khan said that Pakistan being an agricultural and industrial estate should introduce modern scientific techniques in these sectors. The ongoing power crisis has hit the industrial sector hard but steps were being taken to generate electricity through alternative sources, he added.

On this occasion, the minister announced Rs20,000 cash awards for first and second position holders and a Rs5,000 cash award for the third position holder.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 6^th, 2011.