The Ministry of Science and Technology (Most) has started 132 development projects worth Rs 25.1 billion to upgrade and modernise the existing research and development (R&D) organisations, sources here said. According to the sources, a total of eight development projects, costing Rs 685.530 million are in progress at National Institute of Electronics (NIF).
They said the projects in progress included balancing, modernisation and rehabilitation of NIE, Islamabad, at a cost of Rs 490 million; up-gradation of training section and renovation of NIE building (Rs 36 million); integrated circuit design centre (Rs 27 million), NIE center for quality testing and certification of electronic products (Rs 34 million), embedded control system development (ECSD) (Rs 35 million), large scale electronic display centre (Rs 15 million) and upgradation of printing circuit facility of NIE (Rs 35 million).
At present, the National Institute of Electronics had the services of 30 scientists, while 47 posts were lying vacant, they said. They further said that 17 development projects worth Rs 2897.075 million were in progress in Pakistan Council of Renewable Energy Technologies (PCRET), which was established in 1974.
Some of the major projects in progress included upgradation of facilities to produce silicon solar modules up to 50 kv, costing Rs 262 million, provision of electricity to earthquakes affected areas through installation 100 micro hydel plants at a cost of Rs 132 million, upgradation and extension of PCRET facilities at Islamabad Centre, costing RS 444 million, indigenous production of MG silicon and high purity silicon worth Rs 750 million, establishment of Rs 133 million research support central mechanical workshop, a Rs 39 million project of electrification of remote villages of hills areas of NWFP, Fata and Northern Areas, Rs 1,332 million for provision of electricity to earthquake affected areas through installation 100 micro hydel plants.
A total of five projects worth Rs 1,391.800 million were in progress at the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), they said, adding the projects included acquisition of oceanographic research vessel for coastal survey (up 200 meter water depth) worth Rs 744 million and BMR of NIC headquarter at Karachi, costing Rs 36 million. Besides, Rs 35 million would be spent on expansion of commercial shrimp hatchery farm at NIO centre, Sonmiani, Rs 38 million on BMR of NIO headquarters, Karachi, and Rs 500 million on Continental shelf extension survey of Pakistan from 200 NM NIO, Karachi.
A total of 16 development projects are in progress at Pakistan Council of Research on Water Resources (PCRWR) worth Rs 2,652.351 million. Some of the major projects includes participatory national integrated water management programme, mass awareness for water conservation and development costing Rs 177 million, mass awareness for water conservation and development worth Rs 154 million, provision of drinking water (Rs 1,413 million), rainwater harvesting and management for desertification control (Rs 450 million) and water quality monitoring in rural areas (Rs 39 million). A total of 11 development projects are in progress at Pakistan Standard and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) worth Rs 1614.550 million.
Some of the major projects include mobile testing labs for onsite testing of compulsory products (Rs 18 million), construction of PSQCA office and laboratory at Quetta (Rs 35 million), accreditation and strengthening of labs facilities at Lahore (Rs 35 million), construction of office and laboratories of PSQCA at Karachi (Rs 163 million), construction of office and laboratory at Peshawar (Rs 31 million).
A total of six development projects are in progress at Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF) worth Rs 402.200 million The projects include compilation of block to strengthen research and display activities of PMNH, Islamabad (Rs 39 million), participation of scientists and technicians in international conferences, seminars and workshops (Rs 36 million), science awareness through TV channels (Rs 16 million) and construction of six science caravans (Rs 62 million).
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