Nations are built by unleashing creative potential of youth, says Dr Attaur Rehman

University of Karachi's International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences holds international seminar

Dr Attaur Rahman says nations are built by their ability to unleash the creative potential of youth and use their talents for socio-economic development.

The vice chairman of PM's task force on Technology-Driven Knowledge Economy was speaking at the seminar, “From Plant to Patient: Identification of New Drugs for Metabolic Disorders” held at the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi on Saturday.

"Under the new leadership Pakistan thus hopes to make a new beginning, changing its future directions from the production and export of natural resources or low value-added manufactured goods to the manufacture and export of high tech products," he said.

Dr Rahman said in order to transform from from a low value-added agriculture economy to a knowledge economy, three major players need to come together: universities, industry and government.

"About 100 million of our population is below the age of 19, which is 56 per cent," he said, adding that the country needed to train manpower and establish high value added industries ranging from electronics to engineering goods, from pharmaceuticals to automobiles, and from ship building to new and intelligent materials."

National and international scientists including Dr Iqbal Choudhary, Dr Begum Rokeya, Dr Rafat A Siddiqui and Dr Bilge Sener also delivered lectures.