Amadei on his third visit to Pakistan in 2013 participated in conferences and met with several senior officials discussing potentials of science and technology for economic development of the country.
ISLAMABAD:
With an estimated 70 per cent of the population living on less than $2 a day, an integrated approach leveraging existing strengths in the science, technology and engineering in Pakistan can help identify gaps and outline opportunities for economic development, said US Science Envoy Dr Bernard Amadei.
Amadei on his third visit to Pakistan in 2013 participated in conferences and met with several senior officials discussing potentials of science and technology for economic development of the country.
In an interview with The Express Tribune, Amadei said that while Pakistan has great potential to pursue technological advancement, it should focus on building capacity at all the levels.
While discussing Pakistan as an emerging market, he said that the country’s abilities are not utilised to full potential.
Pakistan is facing major growth issues related to water, sanitation, energy and food and agriculture. He said that these indicators translate into poor health, wasted potential and missed opportunities.
“Much of that capacity remains at the potential level and is underutilised” he said.
With a population of 190 million, at the current annual growth rate of 1.6 per cent, it is scheduled to double in 43 years. Amadei said that traditional high tech and low tech methods need to be replicated to 120 million people that reside in rural areas. He said that with the help of science and technology, cheaper solutions should be developed to meet basic requirements of these people.
“Population growth will create demands for energy, food, land, water, transportation, telecommunications and infrastructure” He said. “The role of science, technology and engineering will be critical in meeting the demands at various scales ranging from small remote communities to large urban, peri-urban areas.
The literacy rate of 58 per cent is increasing at one per cent annually, while 25 million children are out of school. Only 7.8% aged 17-23 are enrolled in 134 universities. Only two per cent of the country’s GDP is spent on education. “Such statistics are not normal for an emerging economy,” he said.
Amadei said despite an archaic education system, young people were innovative.
An estimated 2.5 million young people enter work force every year.
He said while security remains a concern for foreign investors, it was time private companies created that market for engineers to stay in the country.
“Both times, I have come back to Pakistan with the same conclusion --- that Pakistan is a country of many contrasts and has enormous potential to be a regional and international leader in science, technology and engineering,” he said.
“The future largely depends on developing a knowledge-based economy,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 10th, 2014.
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