"The paradigms of growth and development have undergone change in the modern world where brain power has overtaken muscle power and science and technology have found a ubiquitous place in every sector. But the tragedy with Pakistan is that our planning machinery didn't reconcile our knowledge paradigms with those of production paradigms. We cannot boast of having 500 PhDs in textile industry out of our 7000 PhDs in science despite the fact that 65 percent of our exports are related with textiles industry."
Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reform Prof Ahsan Iqbal said this while chairing the consultative workshop on "Science Talent Farming Scheme" here on Tuesday.
He said that the Scheme is one of the initiatives of vision 2025 which is our national transformation programme and we are looking forward to produce 500 top science talents every year having capacity of breakthrough technology and research, who will be groomed as world class scientists, technologists and IT entrepreneurs through well-structured and well-planned science talent programme.
He suggested that the software of Science Talent Farming Scheme; characterised by methodology of selecting 500 talents, prioritisation of development areas where these science students can be utilised from high school to PhD level, and identification of KPIs etc; must be focused for the success of this initiative. He said, "The government is committed to encourage education in science and technologies of electronics, bio-technologies, computer, manmade material and technologies etc as the drivers of change in Pakistan. The Scheme will also identify as to how science laboratories and science subjects can be introduced in the rural areas.
The minister said that the Punjab government has already inducted 25000 science teachers in last two-year which has improved the qualitative aspect of our education. If India could establish IT industry by investing in science and technology in the decade of sixties, Pakistan can also go a long way in this direction through targeted planning and allocation in development budget, he added.
He said taking advantage of the young demographic dividend in Pakistan, Prime Minister's Youth Loan Scheme has benefited entrepreneurs by providing small business loans for youth between 21 to 45 years of age who are eager and passionate to contribute in the economic development through innovation and IT driven entrepreneurship skills. Technology Innovation Fund of one billion rupees has been established to fund industry and agriculture related research for PhD scholars for promoting innovation, he maintained.-PR
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