Senate's Standing Committee on Science and Technology on Friday called for allocation of more funds to strengthen scientific research institutions and achieve national objectives.
The committee met here with Senator Mrs Razina Alam Khan in the chair also underlined the need for developing a national strategy for quality assurance and increase in productivity. It also urged the need to improve scientific and technological education in the country.
Minister Incharge for Science and Technology, Dr Atta-ur-Rahman briefed the committee on the organisational structure of the ministry and its attached departments.
Dr Atta said his ministry has been striving to promote scientific and technological research activities and added 13 autonomous organisations dealing with S&T and R&D are engaged in implementing the programmes.
He said it has been the endeavour of the government to use science and technology as an engine of development and major focus is being laid on the development of science.
The minister said as a result of emphasis on the development of science and research in the country, nearly 1200 to 1500 scientists and engineers would get Phd degrees during the next five-years and they would help build a sound base for scientific and technological development.
Dr Atta-ur-Rahman informed all-out efforts were being made to strengthen various research institutions, saying eleven institutes are being developed as Centres of Excellence.
The committee was informed that a technology cluster centre for fan industry in Gujrat and a cluster centre for bed sheets and upholstery products in Multan have been set up with public private partnership.
These centres would provide necessary testing and training facilities, he added.
Dr Atta said 3,000 Pakistani companies have got ISO certification so far with the result that our exports have started increasing. He said National Physical Standards Laboratory and Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority have been authorised to given accreditation for quality control.
The members of the committee raised a number of questions about the working of various institutions under the ministry and put forward proposals to improve their working.
The meeting was also attended by Senators Mrs Nighat Agha, Mrs Tanveer Khalid, Professor Muhammad Saeed Siddiqui, Mrs Nighat Mirza, Mrs Roshan Khursheed Barucha, Dr Muhammad Said, Professor Muhammad Ibrahim Khan and Maulvi Agha Muhammad.
Secretary and senior officers of the ministry and its attached departments were also present.