President, Pakistan Society of Sugar Technologists (PSST), Abdul Waheed Qureshi has said that the society would prepare PC-1 for establishment of Sugar Technology Research and Training Institute (STRTI) in the country to make progress in this important sector of the country's economy.
"This is very big sector of the country and if sugarcane and its by-products were utilised in a proper way it would give big boost to country's economy in shape of foreign exchange comes from export of various products", Waheed Qureshi said while talking to Business Recorder here on Tuesday.
Qureshi hailed the response shown by Chairman, Higher Education Commission, Dr Atta ur Rehman on proposals of the PSST regarding the establishment of Research and Training Institute saying that this was indicative to seriousness of the government regarding the industrial sector of the country. "We would hand over the PC-1 to Dr Atta ur Rehman for funding while PSST would assist the government in preparing curriculum of the institute", he added.
He also hailed the decision of HEC to send 20 technologists abroad for higher education saying that it would help in brining excellence in research work in the sugar sector. "We hope that high qualified technologists falling within the merit would go abroad and return equipped with techniques to guide industry towards new horizons", he added.
Pakistan, he said was fifth largest sugar producing country but do not have any STRTI whereas every sugar producing country possesses this facility. "It is imperative for research and development in the field and without research desired results would not be attained", Qureshi said.
"Our per hectare yield, varietal composition, sugar recovery, dearth of skilled manpower reflects the missing link between industry and research", Qureshi, who has completed the tenure as PSST President. He said that in these days of open market and competitiveness and WTO scenario we were left with no option but to reduce the cost of production, improve the yield and varietal composition, train our manpower for achieving efficiency.
To a question about the place for the institute, he said that it was yet to be decided that where this institute would be set up. But, he added it was clear that it would be set up in any Engineering or Agriculture University in sugarcane area.
He said that reality of over expanding and fast changing scenario of industry and commercial world had dawned on all the professionals asking them to keep themselves abreast with the changes and developments in their trades. PSST seniors realised the fact and guided the society towards right direction, he added.
PSST, he said contributed substantially in the field of Research and Development without any assistance from any quarter. "We are committed to cause of National service voluntarily. We contributed in shape of 946 research papers, 41 annual conventions, innumerable seminars and workshops and disseminated their outcome to people", he added.
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