Twelve acres of land has been proposed for the technology park in M3 Industrial Estate to showcase the new inventions and technologies developed by National Institute of Biotechnology and Genetics Engineering (NIBGE) and other Research Institutes for the commercialization and establishment of knowledge based industries.
Giving a presentation on NIBGE in FCCI on Tuesday, director Dr Shahid Mansoor (Sitara-e-Imtiaz) told that Pakistan has made tremendous progress in the field of science and technology. "Pakistan has honour to have first atomic power plant of this region", he said and added that similarly atomic explosion has also played a major role in making its defence impregnable. He clarified that the mandate of research institutions is to innovate and develop new technologies in according to the local needs if the industrial sector but the commercialization of these technologies rest with the private sector. He said that despite of concerted efforts, we failed to bridge this missing linkage and hence, our industrial sector is dwindling with obsolete and redundant technologies.
Dr Shahid underlined the need for knowledge based industries for a major industrial breakthrough and told that almost all developed countries have made progress by gradually switching over to the new and high-tech and knowledge industries. In this connection America, Europe, Japan and even Bangladesh have established technology parks to showcase technologies developed by their scientists which were adopted by their private sector for its commercialization in the later phase. He termed NIBGE as one of the best international institute in the field of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering. He told that it has developed many products and technologies which remained henceforth unexploited. He mentioned his previous visit to Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FCCI) and told that the issue for the treatment of industrial effluent was discussed in that meeting and NIBGE scientists proved their worth by resolving the issue through environmental friendly technologies which are now being used in Chakera by Water and Sewer Agency (WASA).
He told that NIBGE has helped in earning direct benefits of more than Rs.500 billion while NIAB (National Institute of Agriculture and Biology) has also given benefits to the tune of Rs.300 to 400 billion. He told that NIBGE is providing latest testing facilities for the export of various products including rice. He told that many technologies are still awaiting investors and hence, a technology park should be developed in M3 Industrial Estate. "It will provide investors to personally see the scientific miracles of these technologies and adopt them in according to its own entrepreneurial skills and market needs", he added. "However, in this connection FCCI have to play a key role in bridging the gap between industry and academia", he opined.
Continuing, Dr. Shahid said that livestock and poultry is yet another major sector which could be developed to enhance our exports but we could not develop it in according to the international standards that are directly linked with the traceability and pedigree of the animals.
He told that NIBGE has also resolved this issue and record of the pedigree of animals could be provided in a chip. Currently these chips are being imported but we could easily develop these locally as it is not a costly job. He further told that Pakistan is importing human and livestock medicines worth Rs.100 billion per annum which could be easily formulated in Pakistan. He told that NIBGE has already developed medicines for hepatitis and cancer. The local production of these medicines could be easily consumed in the 18 nuclear medical institutes run by Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission.