Federal Minister for Science and Technology, Muhammad Azam Khan Swati on Thursday said that the research and development center has developed new variety of cotton seed which will help increase cotton production by 30 percent per acre.
Addressing a joint meeting of Engineering and Technology Sub Committee and Research and Development Sub Committee of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Swati said that the new cotton variety will produce contaminated free cotton. Work on development of new variety of rice and wheat is also in progress.
He said that the ministry is reconstituting governing bodies of all the organisations working under the ministry of science and technology and simplifying rules and regulations of these organisations. Swati expressed concern over poor performance of these organisations saying that corruption is rampant. Efforts are under way to improve the working and eradicate corruption, he added.
He agreed to induct representative of KCCI into the governing bodies of Pakistan Standard and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) and PCSIR. Referring to working of PSQCA and PCSIR, the minister said that the PSQCA has developed 2600 quality standards of different products but implementation rate is almost nil. Likewise, during last nine months the income of PCSIR stood at only Rs 40 million whereas its expenses exceeded Rs 760 million.
He said that the ministry has decided to induct fresh blood into these organisations and revise pay scales to improve working and also offer Pakistani scientists incentives to work in the country. Regarding power generation, Swati said that the ministry's main emphasis is on solar power generation.
Research is in progress to reduce cost of per kilowatt production of solar energy. At present around 4 to 8 dollars per kilowatt power is produced from solar cells in different countries whereas in Pakistan it comes to around 11 dollars. Research is in progress to produce solar energy at 1.5 to 2 dollars per kilowatt.
The minister said that out of 170 million population in the age group of 17 to 25 only 4.7 percent goes to university for higher education. He said that uptill now whatever research and development has been carried out in ministry of science and technology its benefit are not passing on to general public and the business community.
Referring to Nato, he said that its presence in the region is a threat to Pakistan's stability adding that Pakistan should take up the issue with the United Nations. KCCI President Anjum Nisar said that the minister should prepare a science and technology development roadmap.
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