Pakistan owns lead in ‘space science’ in Muslim world: Fawad Chaudhry

KARACHI: Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry has said that Pakistan owns superiority in the field of `space science' among the Muslim countries.

He informed the media that the scientific committee, formed recently  by the government to resolve moon-sighting controversy, was preparing a `mobile application' for sighting of the moon for masses.

He asked the opposition parties to acknowledge the leadership of  Prime Minister Imran Khan, as he was the only national leader in the country.

He was speaking at the press briefing held at the Dr Panjwani Centre  for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (PCMD), University of Karachi  (UoK) on Saturday.

Prof. Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman, Prime Minister's Task Force on Technology Driven Knowledge Economy Chairman, was also present on the occasion.

Earlier, Fawad Chaudhry and Prof. Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman chaired the  meeting of Task Force on Technology Driven Knowledge Economy held at the  Dr Panjwani Centre, University of Karachi. Dr Atta-ur-Rehman made a  detailed presentation on transformation towards technology driven economy  in the meeting.

The meeting was well attended by many national experts and scholars, including Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary, Director, International  Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, Captain Retd. Nasim Nawaz, Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology, Syed Yawar Ali, Prof. Dr. Naveed A. Malik, Former Rector, Virtual University of Pakistan, and many others.

Talking to the media, the federal minister said that the calendar to indicate the exact dates of Islamic festivals, including Ramazan, Eidul Fitr, Eidul Azha and Muharram, will be finalized by the 15th of Ramazan.

He said that now masses would also be able to sight moon from their `mobile application' which was being prepared on account for sighting of  the moon. Not a single qualified cleric voiced against me for setting up  of the scientific committee, he mentioned.

To a query, he informed media that 1962 was the time when Pakistan became second country in the world after Russia by sending its rocket  into space. He reiterated that Pakistan still owned dominance in the  field of `space science' in Muslim world.

He pointed out that formation of science and technology based economy, and the governance were two important challenges for PTI government,  adding that the government focused not only on the establishment of Technology Driven Knowledge Economy but also strengthening of large science and research institutions in the country.

Talking about the current political development, he pointed out that Imran Khan was the only national leader in the country. He maintained that this was the phenomenal fact which required the opposition parties to wait patiently for five years until PTI government ended its tenure.

The leaders of opposition parties, who disfigured the national economy, must stop fake crying on account for crises linked with the economy, he said.

Responding to the issue of dual nationality, he said that criticism against the cabinet member who owned dual nationality was worthless, as  they were the national assets.

Talking about his ministry, Fawad Choudhary said that various development projects were being initiated at the national level, which include `provision of fresh water' and establishment of 15,000 new schools, where science will be promoted on priority bases.

The government will also fund `workable projects' of any citizen whose age is below 40, he mentioned.