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National Science, Technology andInnovation Policy 2012

October, 2012

Ministry of Science and Technology Government of Pakistan

Pakistan Council for Science and Technology (PCST)Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of PakistanShahrah-e-Jamhuriat, Sector G-5/2, Islamabad, PakistanPhone No. +92 (51) 9204860, 9205157 Fax No. +92 (51) 9205171 www.pcst.org.pk

Content

National ST&I Policy 2012 i

C O N T E N T S

S.No. Page I. Contents i II. ListofAcronymsandAbbreviations iii III. Preface vi IV. Foreword vii V. ExecutiveSummary ix

1. Introduction 1

2. VisionandObjectives 3 2.1 Vision 4 2.2 PolicyObjectives 4

3. ST&IPlanningandManagementStructure 7 3.1 NationalCommissionforScienceandTechnology(NCST) 8 3.2 MinistryofScienceandTechnology(MoST) 8 3.3 PakistanCouncilforScienceandTechnology(PCST) 9 3.4 ProvincialDepartmentsofScienceandTechnology 10

4. HumanResources 11 4.1 EducationandTraining 12

4.1.1 General Education of Sciences 12 4.1.2 Technical and Vocational Education 18 4.1.3 In-service Training 19 4.1.4 Non-formal Education and Training 20

4.2 ServiceConditionsandIncentivesforScientificandTechnicalManpower 21 4.3 MotivationalMeasures 22 4.4 SciencePopularization 22

5. IndigenousTechnologyDevelopment 24 5.1 HighTechnology 27 5.2 IncentivesforDevelopmentofTechnology 28 5.3 TechnologyforSocioeconomicDevelopment 28 5.4 CodificationofIndigenousKnowledge 29 5.5 ManagementofIntellectualPropertyRightsRegime 30 5.6 InnovationFund 30 5.7 VentureCapitalandEquityFund 30

National ST&I Policy 2012ii

Content

6. TechnologyTransferandtheCreationofAbsorptiveCapacity 31 6.1 AbsorptiveCapacityforTechnologyTransfer 32 6.2 AbsorptiveCapacityoftheFirms 32 6.3 University-FirmCollaborationandScientificMobilityforTechnologyTransfer33

7. InternationalCooperation 34 7.1 BilateralCooperation 35 7.2 Multilateralcooperation 35

8. ThrustAreas 37 8.1 Metrology,Standards,TestingandQuality(MSTQ) 38 8.2 Environment 39 8.3 HealthandPharmaceuticals 40 8.4 Energy 41 8.5 BiotechnologyandGeneticsEngineering 42 8.6 AgricultureandLivestock 43 8.7 Water 44 8.8 Minerals 45 8.9 OceanResources 46 8.10 Electronics 47 8.11 InformationandCommunicationTechnologies(ICTs) 47 8.12 SpaceTechnology 49 8.13 MaterialsScience 50 8.14 NanoscienceandNanotechnology 50 8.15 Lasers&Photonics 52 8.16 EngineeringSector 52

Consolidatedlistofpolicyactions 54-62

List of Acronyms and Abbreviations

National ST&I Policy 2012 iii

AJK AzadJammuandKashmirAPLAC AsiaPacificLaboratory

AccreditationCooperationAusAID AustralianAgencyfor

InternationalDevelopmentB BillionBPS BasicPayScaleBT BillionTonCEMB CentreofExcellencein

MolecularBiologyCERN EuropeanOrganizationfor

NuclearResearchCIIT COMSATSInstituteof

InformationTechnologyCMS CompactMuonSolenoidCNC ComputerNumericalControlCOMSATS CommissiononScienceand

TechnologyforSustainableDevelopmentintheSouth

COMSTECHOICStandingCommitteeonScientificandTechnologicalCooperation

Cu CopperD-8 Developing-8Organizationfor

EconomicCooperationECNCST ExecutiveCommitteeofNCSTECNEC ExecutiveCommitteeofthe

NationalEconomicCouncilECO EconomicCooperation

OrganizationEEZ ExclusiveEconomicZoneEPA EnvironmentalProtection

AgencyEPI ExpandedProgrammeon

ImmunizationFDI ForeignDirectInvestment

FPCCI FederationofPakistanChambersofCommerceandIndustry

GAVI GlobalAllianceforVaccinesandImmunization

GDP GrossDomesticProductGEF GlobalEnvironmentFacilityGER GrossEnrollmentRatioGIK GhulamIshaqKhanGMP GoodManufacturingPracticeGPN GlobalProductionNetworksGPS GlobalPositioningSystemGSM GlobalSystemforMobile

CommunicationsHEC HigherEducationCommissionHEJ HusseinEbrahimJamalHRD HumanResourceDevelopmentIAG IndustryAdvisoryGroupIC IntegratedCircuitICTs Informationand

CommunicationTechnologiesILAC InternationalLaboratory

AccreditationCooperationIPR IntellectualPropertyRightsISO InternationalOrganizationfor

StandardizationISPAK InternetServiceProviders

AssociationofPakistanIST InstituteofSpaceTechnologyIT InformationTechnologyITES InformationTechnologyEnabled

ServiceKRL KahutaResearchLaboratoriesLED LightEmittingDiodeLPG LiquefiedPetroleumGas

LISTOFACRONYMSANDABBREVIATIONS

National ST&I Policy 2012iv


Madrassah Systemprovidingexclusivelyreligiouseducation

MAF MillionAcreFeetMDG MillenniumDevelopmentGoalMoITT MinistryofInformation

TechnologyandTelecommunications

MoST MinistryofScienceandTechnology

MoU MemorandumofUnderstandingMP ManagementPositionMRA MutualRecognition

ArrangementMSTQ Metrology,Standards,Testing

andQualityMW MegawattNARC NationalAgriculturalResearch

CentreNAVTEC NationalVocational&Technical

EducationCommissionNCST NationalCommissionfor

ScienceandTechnologyNER NationalEnrollmentRatioNESCOM NationalEngineeringand

ScientificCommissionNESPAK NationalEngineeringServices

Pakistan(Pvt.)LimitedNIE NationalInstituteofElectronicsNIKO NationalIndigenousKnowledge

SystemsOfficeNPSL NationalPhysicalandStandards

LaboratoryNTC NationalTelecommunication

CorporationNUST NationalUniversityofSciences

andTechnologyOEMs OriginalEquipment

Manufacturers

PAEC PakistanAtomicEnergyCommission

PARC PakistanAgriculturalResearchCouncil

PASHA PakistanSoftwareHousesAssociation

PC PersonalComputerPCBs PrintedCircuitBoardsPCRET PakistanCouncilforRenewable

EnergyTechnologiesPCRWR PakistanCouncilforResearchin

WaterResourcesPCSIR PakistanCouncilforScientific

andIndustrialResearchPCST PakistanCouncilforScienceand

TechnologyPEPC PakistanEnvironmental

ProtectionCouncilPhD DoctorofPhilosophyPNAC PakistanNationalAccreditation

CouncilPSEB PakistanSoftwareExportBoardPSF PakistanScienceFoundationPSQCA PakistanStandardsandQuality

ControlAuthorityR&D ResearchandDevelopmentRE RenewableEnergyRETs RenewableEnergyTechnologiesS&T ScienceandTechnologySAARC SouthAsianAssociationfor

RegionalCooperationSME SmallandMediumEnterprisesSMT Surface-mountTechnologySPD StrategicPlanningDivisionSPS SpecialPayScaleSPS SanitaryandPhytosanitary


National ST&I Policy 2012 v

ST&I ScienceTechnologyandInnovation

SUPARCO PakistanSpaceandUpperAtmosphereResearchCommission

TBT TechnicalBarriertoTradeTEVTA TechnicalEducationand

VocationalTrainingAuthorityTNCs TransnationalCorporationsTVET TechnicalandVocational

EducationandTrainingUN UnitedNationsUNCLOS UNConventionontheLawof

theSeaUNESCO UnitedNationsEducational,

ScientificandCulturalOrganization

UNICEF UnitedNationsChildren’sFundUS UnitedStatesUSA UnitedStatesofAmericaUSD UnitedStatesDollarUSF UniversalServiceFundUstaad Systemthroughwhich

mechanics,plumbers,welders,electriciansaretrainedintheprivateapprentices.

WEF WorldEconomicForumWHO WorldHealthOrganizationWTO WorldTradeOrganization

National ST&I Policy 2012vi

Preface

AnobjectiveanalysisofthecurrentstateofScienceandTechnologyinPakistanleaveslittledoubtthatthissectorhasnotundergonesystematicdevelopmentduringthelastcoupleofdecades.Inthefaceofmyriadexigenciesemanatingfrompolitical,economicandsecurity

concerns,thelong-termobjectiveofcreatingastrongS&Tbaseinthecountrywasrelegatedtoaback-burnerstatus.Itis,therefore,notsurprisingthatPakistanhasbeenunabletoformulateanewS&Tpolicyeversincethefirstpolicydocumentinthisareawasadoptedin1984.

Whiletheworldofscienceiswitnessingbreath-takingadvances,whicharedestinedtochangethewaypeopleleadtheirlivesinfuture,manycountriesoftheSouth,includingPakistan,arefearedtomissthechanceofbecomingapartoftheglobalknowledgesociety.ThisisnottosaythatPakistanlacksthehumanandmaterialresourcesforbeinganactiveplayerinthefieldofmoderntechnolo-gies;onthecontraryithasaprovenpotentialofexcellenceinS&Taswitnessedinthesuccessofourstrategicdefenseprogrammes.Obviously,whatisrequiredisaclearvisionandwell-definedroad-maptoputthecountryoncourseforachievingexcellenceinallbranchesofmodernScienceandTechnology.

TheGovernmentofPakistaniscognizantofthevitalrolethatScienceandTechnologycanplayintheeconomicdevelopmentofthecountry.ThispolicydocumentreflectsthedesireofthepresentGovernmenttoputS&Tatthecoreofnationalsocio-economicdevelopmentagenda.TheroleofMinistryofScienceandTechnologyinthisrespectistointegratetheprogrammesandinitiativesbeingundertakenbyotherMinistriesandDepartmentsatFederalandProvinciallevels.Creatingsynergyandcoordinationbetweensectoralpolicesinhealth,education,industry,informationtech-nologyandpowerproduction,etc.willbenecessarytocreateasuccessfulS&Tframe-workforthecountry.ThecommitmentoftheGovernmenttoprovidenecessarylegalandfinancialcoverforthesuccessofST&Ipolicyismanifestedthroughtheadoptionofthepolicyafterensuringnon-partisanpoliticalsupportandconcurrenceofprovinces.

IamindebtedtothePrimeMinisterofPakistanforhiswhole-heartedsupportandencouragementthroughouttheprocessofadoptingthepolicy.Duringthedraftingphaseofthisdocument,thecon-tributionsmadebytheteamofscientists,engineers,academicians,andmembersofprivatesectorandcivilsocietyarehighlyappreciated.Theultimateobjectiveofthewholeexerciseistocreatebet-tersocio-economicconditionsforallsectionsofoursociety.ThesuccesswouldbebasedprimarilyonthesustainedcommitmentoftheGovernment;however,thefullandenthusiasticparticipationofallstake-holders,withself-lessdedicationandsenseofresponsibilitytowardsourfuturegenera-tions,wouldbeitsnecessaryingredients.Isincerelyhopethattheconcernedinstitutions,withfullsupportofthegovernment,willhelpachievethedesiredsocio-economictransformationenvisagedinthispolicydocument.

(MirChangezKhanJamali) Federal Minister Ministry of Science and Technology Government of Pakistan

P R E F A C E

Foreword

National ST&I Policy 2012 vii

TheprocessofreviewingthenationalS&Tpolicyhasremainedstalledformanyyears.ThefirstnationalS&Tpolicywasapprovedin1984afterlengthydeliberationsextendedoveraperiodofalmostnineyears.Subsequently,theMinistryofScienceandTechnologypreparedadocu-

menton‘NationalTechnologyPolicyandTechnologyDevelopmentActionPlan’in1993,followedbyacompilationoftherecommendationsof‘NationalCommissionforScienceandTechnology’inMay2000.Thepresentreviewwasstartedin2009,whichhasculminatedinadraftthatisexpectedtoprovidearoadmapofprojectedS&Tdevelopmentsinthecountryhopefullyforthenextdecade.

Someofthemajorconsiderationsthathavebeenkeptinviewforthispolicyproposalareasfollows:

1. Consideringthattheobjectivesofpreviouspolicieshaveremainedlargelyunfulfilled,acandidanalysisofimplementationchallengeshasbeenundertaken.

2. Tobridgethegapbetweenwell-articulatedintentionsandtangibleactions,aneffectivemecha-nismofpolicyoversighthasbeenproposed.

3. Realizingtheinter-sectoralnatureofS&Tactivities,maximumefforthasbeenmadetoalignthispolicywithotherapprovednationalpoliciesinrelevantareas,suchasEducation,IT,Health,Environment,Water,Labour,Trade,etc.

4. Forthefirsttime,innovationishighlightedasadriverofeconomicactivityalongsideabuild-upofS&Tcapacity.

5. Aparadigmshift fromsupplytodemandhasbeenemphasized,withessential inter-twinedrolesofindustry,academiaandtheGovernment.

6. TheinternationalS&Tdevelopmentsinrecentyearsandtheusefulelementsofothercountries’policieshavebeenassimilatedtotheextentpossible.

7. Itiskeptinviewthatthecommonpeopleshouldbethebeneficiariesofalleffortsenvisagedunderthepolicy,asequitablyaspossible.

8. Efforthasbeenmadetoremaincognizantoftheinterestsofallstake-holders, includingthepublicsector,whichisrecognizedasthemajorforcebehindanysignificantchangewithrespecttonationalprosperity.

Itshouldbewell-understoodthatwhiletheMinistryofS&TwillbetheownerofthePolicy,itisbynomeansimpliedthatallactionableelementsofthePolicywillbeundertakenbytheMinistryonitsown.Bynecessity,thepresentdocumentprovidesaholisticviewoftheentirelandscapethatispronetoactionsfallingunderthedomainofS&Tinitsbroadestsense.Thus,educationcannotbeleftoutinthearchitectureofanS&Tcomplex,yetitisunderstoodthattheplayersinthisdo-mainwouldbetherelevanteducationalinstitutions.Similarly,itisrepeatedlyindicatedinthetextthattheexecutionagents,whendifferentthantheMinistry,willbeprovidednecessarysupporttoachievetheoverallobjectivesofthePolicy.Aprominentexampleistheentiregamutofengineer-ing-basedindustrialactivity,whichhasbeenassimilatedsimplybyendorsingtherelevantdocu-mentpreparedbythePlanningCommissionandtheHigherEducationCommission.

Afewdisclaimerswithrespecttothepresentdocumentarealsoinorder.

F O R E W O R D

National ST&I Policy 2012viii

Foreword

1. Noattempthasbeenmadetoencompasstheactivitiesofthestrategicorganizations.Although,itisunderstoodthataconsiderableamountoftheirresearchactivityfallsunderthenon-clas-sified category, however, there are operational difficulties in settinguppolicy targetswithrespecttotheirengagements.

2. Inordertoavoidaprotractedprocessofpolicyformulationbyholdingmultipleconferences,establishing sub-committees,preparinggreenpapers andorganizingpublicdebates, itwasconsideredadvisabletoascertaintheinterestsofkeyorganizationsthroughconsultationswithseniorofficials.

3. Theprescriptive sectionsunderdifferent heads have been followedby specific action lists.However,noattempthasbeenmadetoassignpriorityorascertainrequiredfinancialimpact.Itisenvisagedthatspecificexecutionplanswillemergeoutofthisdocumentasandwhensuf-ficientfinancialresourcesaremadeavailable.

ItisbelievedthattheguidelinesofthispolicydocumentcanrevolutionizethestateofS&Tinthecountryanditsimpactonsocietyifapoliticalwillisexhibitedacrosspartylines,thereby,ensuringthecontinuityofthepolicyandun-interruptedallocationofrequiredfinancialresources.

(AkhlaqAhmadTarar) Federal Secretary Ministry of Science and Technology

Executive Summary

National ST&I Policy 2012 ix

Since its independence, in1947,Pakistanrealized the importanceof scienceand technologyfor its securityaswell as for socio-economicdevelopment.Startingalmost fromscratch, itsuccessfullyinstalleditsS&TinfrastructureandestablishedR&Dorganizationsinalmostall

majordisciplinesofscienceandtechnology.In1960,theNationalScientificCommissionofPaki-stanwasconstitutedtoconsiderhowbestscientificresearchcanbepromotedand;ensuredthatitsresultsareutilizedfortheoveralldevelopmentofthecountry.TherecommendationsoftheCom-missionpavewayforbasicandappliedresearchinuniversitiesandR&DinstitutesandlaidthefoundationfortheS&Tpolicy.Thefirst“NationalS&TPolicy”wasapprovedin1984whichwasfollowedbythe“NationalTechnologyPolicyandTechnologyDevelopmentPlan-1993”.Recom-mendationsofthesecondmeetingofthe“NationalCommissionforScienceandTechnology”heldin2000constitutedadefactonationalS&TPolicytilltheapprovalofthecurrentpolicy.However,despitetherealizationoftheroleofscienceandtechnologyinthenationaldevelopmentandalargenumberofR&Dorganizationsandhighereducationinstitutions,contributionofscienceandtech-nologyinthenationalsocio-economicdevelopmentbyandlargeremainedinsignificant.Underthisscenario,theneedforanewST&IpolicytosupportthesocialandproductionsectorwasfeltbyallthestakeholdersthatleadtothepreparationoftheNationalScience,TechnologyandInnovation(ST&I)Policy2012.

TheNational ST&IPolicy2012describesprincipal aimsandobjectivesunder thebroader areasofsocio-economicdevelopment,humanresourcedevelopment,R&Dinfrastructure,promotionofST&IinthesocietyandS&Tmanagementsystemand,envisagesthatachievementoftheseaimsandobjectiveswouldhelptorealizetheVisionofthepolicywhichhasbeenstatedas“toachievethesecurity,prosperityandsocialcohesionofPakistanthroughequitableandsustainablesocio-economicprogressusingscience,technologyandinnovationascentralpillarsofdevelopmentinallsectorsofeconomicactivity”.

ThemainfocusofthepolicyisonST&IPlanningandManagementStructure,HumanResourceDe-velopment,IndigenousTechnologyDevelopment,TechnologyTransfer&CreationofAbsorptiveCapacityandInternationalCooperationaswellasR&DThrustAreas.Theprominentfeaturesofthecurrentpolicyaretheproposalofaneffectivemechanismofpolicyoversight,highlightingin-novationasadriverofeconomicactivity,paradigmshiftfromsupplytodemandsideandanefforttoalignST&Ipolicywithnationalpoliciesinothereconomicsectors.

ST&I Planning and Management Structure

Thepolicyidentifiesthatduetoavarietyofreasons,S&TPlanningandManagementStructureisnotfunctioninginanoptimalmannerwiththeresultthatthereisawidegapintheexpectationsfromandtheachievementsofthesystem.Thepolicyemphasizesthatthereisanurgentneedtostreamlinethesystemtomakeitmoreeffectiveandintegrateitintothemainstreamplanninganddevelopmentsystem.InthisregardproposalshavebeenmadefortheimprovedfunctioningofthefollowingorganizationswhichrepresenttheimportantconstituentsofthenationalS&TPlanningandManagementSystem.

• NationalCommissionforScienceandTechnology–HeadedbythePrimeMinisterofPakistan,theCommissionisthehighestforumforprovidingleadershipandoverallguidanceintheim-plementationofST&Ipolicy.

EXECUTIVESUMMARY

National ST&I Policy 2012x

Executive Summary

• MinistryofScienceandTechnology–Mainorganizationresponsible forpolicy formulationandimplementation.

• PakistanCouncilorScience&Technology–ThemajororganizationinthecountryresponsibleforS&Tpolicyadvice to thegovernment, toundertakeresearch inST&Ipolicy, topromotequalityR&DstructureinthecountryandtomonitorandevaluateST&Ipolicyforoverallde-velopmentofS&Tinthecountry.

• ItalsoincludesthatS&TDepartmentsshouldbeestablishedinalltheprovinces.

Human Resource Development

Nopolicycanbesuccessfulongroundunlessitisdemand-drivenandpeople-centric.Therefore,inthecurrentpolicy,thehighestpremiumisplacedonthequalityofhumanresourceandtheneces-sarymeasurestoeducateandtrainthem.

Thecurrentpolicysuggeststheoverallschemeofeducationandtrainingofallcategoriesofpeo-pleatallstagesoflife,withseparatesectionsonServiceConditions&IncentivesforScientific&TechnicalManpower,MotivationalMeasuresandSciencePopularization.Takingaholisticview,recommendationshavebeenmadeforimprovementatvariouslevelsi.e.GeneralEducationofSci-ences(atprimary,secondaryanduniversitylevel),Technical&VocationalEducation,In-serviceTraining,Non-formalEducation&TrainingandDevelopmentofhighlyqualifiedS&TManpower.

Indigenous Technology Development

Astherewasnorealdemandfromindustry,theR&Dsystemofthecountryisorientedtowardsthesupplyside.R&Dactivityintheindustrialsectoritselfisassumedtobenegligible.Thisisincontrast to the industrialized countrieswhere the industrial sector is amajor contributor to theoverallR&Deffortof thecountry.Realizingtheurgentneed, tore-orient thepublicsectorR&Dorganizationstodemand-drivenresearchincollaborationwiththeindustry,variousmeasuresfortheFederal&ProvincialGovernments,R&Dinstitutionsandindustryhavebeensuggestedinthepolicyforimprovementsinthefollowingareas:• HighTechnology• IncentivesforDevelopmentofTechnology• TechnologyforSocioeconomicDevelopment• CodificationofIndigenousKnowledge• ManagementofIntellectualPropertyRightsRegime• InnovationFund• VentureCapitalandEquityFund

Itisenvisagedthatimplementationoftheserecommendationswillenhanceindigenousdevelop-mentoftechnologyinthecountryandcreateR&Dliaisonwithindustry.

Executive Summary

National ST&I Policy 2012 xi

Technology Transfer & Creation of Absorptive Capacity

In the contextof adeveloping country suchasPakistan, technology transfer takesplaceat twobroad levels; internationalandnational. International technology transferentails theacquisitionandtransferof technologyfromamorescientificallyandtechnologicallyadvancedcountrytoadevelopingcountry.Nationaltechnologytransferentailsthediffusionoftechnologyfromtheearlyleadingadopterstothewholesectorofproductionandtheidentificationandexploitationofprom-isingindigenousresearchwithacommercialpotential.Inorderforbothtypesoftransferoftechnol-ogytotakeplacesuccessfullyinPakistan,measureshavebeensuggestedattheindividual,firm/instituteandnationallevelsparticularlyfocusingonthefollowingaspectsoftechnologytransfer:

• AbsorptiveCapacityforTechnologyTransfer

• AbsorptiveCapacityoftheFirms

• University-FirmCollaborationandScientificMobilityforTechnologyTransfer

International Cooperation

InternationalcooperationplaysanimportantroletoupgradetheS&Tsystemofanycountryandimproveitscapacitytocontributetothesocio-economicdevelopment.Obviously,cooperationwithindustriallyadvancedcountriesiscriticalasithelpstoimprovetechnologicalcapability.Coopera-tionwithdevelopingcountriesisalsoimportantaslearningfromtheexperiencesofothercountriesatasimilarlevelofdevelopmenthelpstoidentifybestpracticestechnologieswhichcanbeeasilyadopted.

Thepolicy recommends that intensiveefforts shouldbemade tohave fruitful cooperationbothwithdevelopedanddevelopingcountries.Inthisregardsuggestionshavebeenmadetomaterial-izebenefitsfrombothbilateralandmultilateralcooperationagreementsandMoUs.

Thrust Areas

R&Dareashavetobedeterminedkeepinginviewthesocial,economicandsecurityneedsofthecountry.TheNationalST&IPolicy2012hasidentified16ThrustAreasforR&DactivitiesforPaki-stanandhassuggestedmeasuresforenhancingeffortsineachoftheseareas.

TheThrustAreasincludeMetrology,Standards,Testing&Quality(MSTQ),Environment,Health&Pharmaceuticals,Energy,Biotechnology&GeneticEngineering,Agriculture&Livestock,Water,Minerals,OceanResources,Electronics,Information&CommunicationTechnologies(ICTs),SpaceTechnology,MaterialsScience,Nanoscience&Nanotechnology,Lasers&PhotonicsandEngineer-ing.

TheimplementationoftheST&IPolicywillleadtothenewdimensionsinimprovingR&Dinstitu-tions,developmentofresearchandengineering,effectivecollaborationbetweenacademia,R&Dorganizationsandindustryandabovealleconomicdevelopmentofthecountry.

Itisjustimpossibletotalkonlyof

technologytransfer.Oneshouldtalk

ofsciencetransferfirstandtechnology

transferlater...Unlessyouarevery

goodatscienceyouwillneverbe

goodattechnology.

Prof.Dr.AbdusSalamNobel Laureate

“

”

Introduction

National ST&I Policy 2012 1

1. Introduction

1. It isnowuniversallyrecognizedthatthedevelopmentofacountrydependsonitsS&Tcapacity.This linkage iswitnessedacross thenations and through the course of history ofhundredsofyears.Especiallyafter theWorldWarII,theestablishedrecipefornationbuild-ingandreconstructionhasbeentheuseofrap-idlyexpandingS&Tresources.Sincethedawnof 21st century, there has been absolutely nohuman activity that is not affected by S&Tadvances,andconsequentlythereisnosocio-economicdevelopmentaspectthatisnotpronetoS&Tbased solutions.The transformationalpowers of S&T applications in changing thesocio-economicconditionsofanycountry,irre-spectiveofitsgeography,ethnicityorculturaltraits,are thereforeselfevident. Ignoring thisrealitycanbedoneonlyatthecostofdignifiednationalsurvival.

2. The pace of advances in different fieldsof science and technology has been stead-ilyincreasingduringthelastfiftyyears.Withmore countries vying for higher positions onthe development ladder, the competition isbecomingstrongerandwider.Even themostadvancedcountrieshavingpioneeringrole inR&Dareconcernedabouttheirabilitytoretaintheir leadershippositions in the longrun,es-peciallyinthenewlyemergingfieldsofS&T.Aprolongedanddeterminedefforttobuildmod-ernS&Tcapacity,throughavisionarypolicyistheonlyguaranteeforanydevelopingcountryto achieve progress in a globalized economicworldorder.

3. Pakistan is a country that is endowedwithalltheingredientstobecomeaneconomicpowerbutalongtrailofmissedopportunitieshasseverelyhampereditsprogress,leadingtothe unsatisfactory current development indi-cators. Historically, Pakistan performed verywell in the early years after independence in1947 and successfully installed its S&T infra-structure,startingalmostfromscratch.Itwasamongstthepioneersindevelopingcountriesto chalk-out five-year plans and to devise animpressive Science and Technology policy in

1984.Thehead-startofPakistanascomparedto‘AsianTigers’cametoanaughtduetopo-liticalinstabilityandlackofleadership.Conse-quently,inspiteofanimpressivearrayofR&Dorganizationsandhighereducationrevivalef-forts,thenetS&Tcapacityislack-luster.

4. A comprehensive and forward lookingnational S&T policy of Pakistan was formu-latedin1984,afteranelaborateandextensiveprocessofconsultationswithallrelevantstake-holders.Afteralmost10years,anupgradeofthispolicywasprepared in the formof“Na-tionalTechnologyPolicyandTechnologyDe-velopment Plan - 1993”. An appraisal of thestateofS&Tinthelightofexistingpolicieswasundertakenby the“NationalCommission forScienceandTechnology” in2000.Therecom-mendations of that meeting currently consti-tuteadefactonationalS&TPolicy.NofurtherreconsiderationorrevisionofthecurrentS&Tsysteminthecountrytookplaceuntil2009.Itis,however,relevanttomentionthatanumberof sectoral policies such as education, health,IT, quality control, environment, industriesetc, were prepared by different departmentsandMinistries.ThenationalS&Tsystemcom-prisesofall thesesectorsandhence, theroleof S&T policy is to create synergy, coordina-tionandoverallguidanceoftheintegratedsys-tem.Moreover,PakistanhasaFederalpoliticalstructurewith considerable autonomyvestedin theProvinces,which are supposed toper-formalargepartofactionsdirectlyrelevanttothenationalpolicy.Itistherefore,moreimpor-tantthatNationalS&Tpolicyprovidesaholis-ticviewoftheroleofS&T,alignssectoralpol-icyobjectives,plugsgapsofareasnotcoveredbysectoralpolicies,setsdirectionsoffuturein-stitutionaldevelopmentandprescribesmoni-toring of the implementationprocess in lightofclearlydefinedobjectives.Maximumefforthasbeenmade tokeep theS&Tprogrammesalignedwiththe“Vision-2030”declarations.Thispolicyrevisionhasalsobenefitedfromacandid analysis of the operational success orotherwiseofpreviouspolicies.

5. Thepolicydescribedinthepresentdocu-

National ST&I Policy 20122

Introduction

mentenvisagesaparadigmshift,inwhichin-novation is recognized as an integral part ofS&Tsystem.Itisemphasizedthattheinnova-tionsystemofthecountryneedstobeconsoli-datedandexpanded.TheS&Tpolicyhastobedemand-drivenandpeople-centric.Thehigh-estpremiumisplacedonthequalityofhumanresource and the necessarymeasures to edu-cateandtrainmanpower.Theneedtoengagepublicsectorinachievingoverallpolicyobjec-tivesisalsounderscored.

6. Since,itisimportantthatallstake-holdersunderstandthetermsScience,TechnologyandInnovation in a consistent manner, the com-monlyaccepteddefinitionsof thesetermsaregivenbelow:

Scienceisabodyofknowledgeaboutthebasicprinciplesandlawsthatgovernthebehaviourofnaturalworld.Scientificknowledgeis‘creat-ed’ throughobservationsandexperimentationusingdeductiveandinductivelogictocorrelatetheavailabledata. It iswidelyrecognizedthat‘Science’isthebasisofmoderntechnology.Noamountoftechnologicalknow-howisasubsti-tutefortheabilitytounderstandscientificprin-

ciplesandcapacitytoexpanditshorizons.

Technologyisthepracticalapplicationofheu-ristic or scientific knowledge to create toolsandgadgets that arehelpful in awide rangeofhumanactivities.Technologyprovides theinterfacebetweenabstractknowledgeandthenecessityofputtingittopracticaluse.

Innovationisathoughtprocessthatcutsacrossthe boundaries of S&T, involving also social,legalandfinancialacumen.Itisamechanismofcreativethinking,makingitpossibletobringabout positive change using all available re-sources.Consequently,theinnovationprocesssucceedsonlyinanenvironmentwherecoop-erative action by a network of institutions ispossible.Theclassicaldefinitionofinnovationsystem by Freeman (1987)[ ] states, “…..thenetworkof institutions in thepublic andpri-vate sectorswhose activities and interactionsinitiate,import,modifyanddiffusenewtech-nologies”. Innovationhasstrongsocialmoor-ings which enable appropriate adaptation ofvalue-neutral technical resources to achieveparticular results under available conditionsandconstraints.


Vision and Objectives

2. VisionandObjectives

2.1 Vision

7. To achieve the security, prosperity andsocial cohesionofPakistan throughequitableandsustainablesocio-economicprogressusingscience, technologyand innovationas centralpillarsofdevelopmentinallsectorsofeconom-icactivity.

2.2 PolicyObjectives:

8. Thefollowinglistofobjectivesisintendedtobebroad-based,withtheunderstandingthatthe achievement of desired results would begradual and incrementalover the life-timeofthepolicyimplementationprocess,withintheprevalenteconomicconstraints.Itis,however,premisedonamajorinitiativeofreformsandgenerousfundingunderastrongpoliticalcom-mitmentanchored in thefirmbelief that eco-nomicprogress, social harmony andnationalsecuritycriticallydependonourabilitytomas-terandjudiciouslyapplymodernscienceandtechnology.

9. Theprincipal aims andobjectives of theNational Science,Technologyand InnovationPolicyofPakistanare:

Socio-economic Development

i. ToimprovethequalityoflifeofcommonpeopleinlinewiththeparametersofMil-lenniumDevelopmentGoalsandInterna-tional Human Development reports, en-suring sustainability and environmentalpreservation.

ii. Tocreatean industrialandeconomicen-vironment,inwhichgainfulemploymentsare available to people of different abili-ties, enabling them and their families toleadahealthy,secure,dignifiedandcon-tendedlife.

iii. TomakePakistanself-reliantwithrespectto its strategically important needs suchasenergyandfood,throughadeterminedcampaignofmaximizingtheuseofindig-

enousnaturalresourcesandenhancementofagriculturalproduce.

iv. To help create an S&T savvy society,through measures that create enlighten-ment in the masses, confidence in theirability to control their destiny, and aheightenedsense

v. of responsibility tomakePakistan apro-gressive andprosperous country,devoidofsocialillssuchasreligious/ethnic/gen-der discrimination, dishonesty, corrup-tion,nepotismanddisrespectforlaw.

Human Resource Development

vi. To encourage natural inquisitiveness ofyoungstudentsinelementaryschoolsandsatisfy their curiosity by providing themscience-based understanding of naturalworld.Thegiftedyoungstersaretobeiden-tifiedatearlystagefortheirpossiblefuturecareersinbasicandappliedsciences.

vii. Toassisttheeducationalsystematsecond-aryand tertiary level inmakinga transi-tion towards ‘real understanding of corescientificconcepts’,ascomparedtoaccre-tion of scientific knowledge through un-criticalrotelearning.

viii.To strengthen R&D activities in HigherEducationalInstitutionsthroughgenerousfunding, availability andmaintenance ofexperimental facilities and resources forinternationalmobility.Theencouragementofsuchactivitiescanbemadethroughfi-nancialrewards,nationalrecognition,me-diaexposureandhighrespectabilityinthesociety, creating rolemodels andcelebri-tiesamongscientificworkforce.

ix. Totakemeasuresforcreatingacompetentcorps of technicians and engineers, withcreative approach towards productionanddesigninawiderangeofdisciplinesinordertoupgradethenationalindustrialbase, capable of meeting local demandsand expanding exports of products andservices.



x. To enhance skill levels at all strata ofpopulation engaged in different formalandinformalsectorsofeconomicactivitythroughanetworkoftrainingcenters,con-tinuingeducationfacilitiesand in-servicequalificationimprovementprogrammes.

R&D Infrastructure

xi. ToimproveperformanceofexistingR&Dinstitutions and upgrade their field andlaboratory facilitiesalongwithcreationofnew, well-equipped, multi-disciplinaryresearch facilities at national level in ar-easofemergingtechnologies.Centralizedlaboratoryfacilitiestobecreatedtoavoidduplicationofexpensiveequipmentindif-ferentorganizations.

xii. To focus on demand driven research ef-forts,withtheobjectiveofmaximizingtheuse of indigenous know-how and localresources for value-added products thatmeet the market requirements at homeandabroad.

xiii.TomakeR&Dcareersattractiveenoughforthe brightest students to choose Science,Technology, Engineering andMathemat-ics education as their highest preference.Thetrilogyofgoodsalary,goodresearchfacilitiesandgoodadministration isvitalfor satisfactory output of researchwork-ers.

xiv.Tosetupinstitutionalizedmechanismforcoordinationwithin scientific communityofthecountry,linkagewithindustrialsec-tor,andpartnershipwithinternationalre-searchestablishments.

xv. Tocreateenablingenvironmentfor inno-vation to flourish in small and mediumenterprisesinsuchawaythatS&Tbasedproducts atdifferent levelsof sophistica-tion aredevelopedandmarketed for thebenefitofcommonpeople.Theinnovationculture should give rise to entrepreneur-ship with appropriate financial arrange-ments.

xvi.Togivesignificantlevelofattentiontoba-sicresearch,whichisknowntoprovideasolidbasefortechnologicaladvancesandto keep emerging technologies in focus,inviewoftheirhighestpotentialforleap-frogginginahighlycompetitiveworld.

S&T Management System

xvii.Tostrengthen/revampthesystemofS&Tpolicyformulation,implementation,mon-itoring and overall control of the sector,keeping in view thewidedistribution ofrelevant subjects across different minis-tries/departments at national and pro-vincial level and the Federal structure ofPakistan having provincial autonomy inkeyareasofconcernforthedevelopmentofS&Tsystem.

xviii.To devise a legally binding system forensuringthecontinuityofpolicies,imple-mentation of relevant decisions, enforce-ment of quality controls, establishmentof IPR regime and otherActs, Laws andOrdinancesthatguaranteetherobustnessof the envisaged Policy Implementationframework.

xix.To ensure thatNational ST&I policy hasa resonance and coherence with sectoralpoliciesthatenvisagetheexecutionofma-jorS&Tbasedplansforconventionalandrenewable energy supplies, informationtechnologyaccess,healthfacilities,indus-trial production, environmental preser-vation, transport and housing projects,agro-basedproductsandeducationalpro-grammes.

10. To achieve the overall objectives of thepolicy, the following undertakings are envis-aged:

PolicyActions:

A1. DeclarationofthepoliticalwillthatS&Tcapacity building would be a centralpillarofnationaldevelopmentstrategyand the R&D expenditure would beenhanced to1.0%ofGDPby2015and2.0%by2020.

A2. Commitmenttocreatealong-termnon-partisanST&Ipolicywiththeconsensusofallstake-holdersandputtinginplacea legal framework for ensuring conti-nuityofthepolicyandallocationofre-quiredfunds.

A3. Issuing the guidelines for shifting thefocus of R&D towards demand sidewithfullparticipationofprivatesectorandemployingmechanismstofosterin-novation.





3. ST&IPlanningandManage-mentStructure

11. The existing planning and managementstructurefornon-strategic

ScienceandTechnologysectorcomprises:

• TheNationalCommissionforScienceandTechnology(NCST)

• The Executive Committee of NCST (EC-NCST)

• Ministry of Science and Technology(MoST)

• PakistanCouncilforScienceandTechnol-ogy(PCST)

• ProvincialDepartmentsofScience&Tech-nology,Planning&Development

12. Due to a variety of reasons, this struc-ture is not functioning in anoptimalmannerwiththeresultthatthereisawidegapintheexpectationsfromandtheachievementsofthesystem.TheS&Tsystemiscurrentlyfunction-ingmoreorlessinisolationfromtheindustrialsector aswell as the economic and socialde-velopmentplansoftheGovernment.Thereis,therefore,anurgentneedtostreamlinethesys-temtomakeitmoreeffectiveandintegratetheS&Tsystemintothemainstreamplanninganddevelopmentsystem.

13. TheNationalCommissionforScienceandTechnology(NCST)wascreatedunderaReso-lutionoftheMinistryofScienceandTechnolo-gywithGazetteNotificationofApril1984,asapartoftheimplementationoftheNationalS&TPolicy (1984). Itwas envisaged thatwith thePrimeMinisterasitsChairman,itwouldbetheapexdecisionmakingandcoordinatingagencyforS&Tinthecountry,to“provideleadershipandoverallguidanceinthedevelopmentofastrong,well-integrated systemof science andtechnologyanditsdeploymentforrapidsocio-economicprogress”.Itsmajorachievementhasbeentheapproval, inprinciple,of therecom-mendations of the 2ndmeeting held on 2ndMay2000,whichareatpresentservingasthe

de facto S&T Policy/Action Plan. OriginallyMoSTwasthesecretariatofNCST,butin1997thisfunctionwasassignedtoPCST.

3.1 NationalCommissionforScienceandTechnology(NCST)

14. Asaresultofthe18thamendmentintheConstitution, some federal ministries havebeen devolved while some newministries /divisionshavebeencreatedanda fewothershave been renamed. Further, some functionsi.e. Education, Health, Agriculture etc. havebeen transferred to the provinces. Therefore,foreffectiverepresentationfromallstakehold-ers, compositionof theNCSTneeds tobe re-vised.ThecompositionofExecutiveCommit-teeofNCSTalsoneedstoberevised.

3.2 MinistryofScienceandTechnology(MoST)

15. The Constitution of Pakistan (1973) de-fines the S&T research coordination as theresponsibility of the Federal Government.Consequently, the Ministry of Science andTechnologywascreatedanditsRulesofBusi-nesswere approved in 1973.TheMinistry is,therefore,therightfulownerofNationalST&Ipolicyandprimaryagencyfortheimplemen-tationofthispolicy.Theenhancementofpro-vincialautonomyunder the18thamendment(April 8, 2010)doesnot curtail theMinistry’sroleandfunctions.

16. In addition to its functions under the“RulesofBusiness1973”, theMinistryofSci-enceandTechnologymayperformthefollow-ingfunctions:

i. To execute necessary actions or cause toget theseactionsdone in implementationofthenationalST&IPolicy.

ii. To prepare feasibility studies of projectsunder theST&IPolicyand submitfinan-cial allocation requests for the develop-mentofS&T in linewithST&Ipolicyonyearlybasis.

iii. Toformulateproposals fornationalcent-



ers where R&D equipmentv for multi-disciplinary research is accessible to allresearchers.

iv. To significantly enhance the researchfunding role of PSF in direct support ofprojects,whichhavebeenthoroughlyvet-tedbyexpertsanddeemedtohavesignifi-canteffectonnationaleconomy.

v. Tomakepreparations for settingupandmaintainingatleastonemajorTechnologyParkineachProvince,AJK,GilgitBaltistanandtheCapitalterritorytobeattachedtoselecteduniversities.

vi. TocoordinatebetweenS&Torganizationsandtheproductionsector.

vii. TocoordinatewiththePlanningCommis-sionfortranslatingtheS&Trequirementsof the national development plans intowell-defined programmes and assigningthemtotheappropriateR&Dagenciesforexecution.

viii.Toplanandexecuteprogrammes for thespecialized HRD requirements of its or-ganizations.

ix. Tofunctionastheprincipalagencyforin-ternationalliaisoninScienceand Technol-ogy.

x. ToperformtechnicalauditoftheS&Tor-ganizations underMoST with respect tothe provision of financial /material andhumanresources.

To perform these functions, the technicalwingsof theMinistryneeds tobeadequatelystrengthened.

3.3 PakistanCouncilforScienceandTechnology(PCST)

17. ThecreationofPakistanCouncil forSci-enceandTechnologyin1961wasamajorstepforward to institutionalize the monitoring ofS&Tdevelopmentinthecountryandtounder-takeforesightexercisesforfuturepolicydirec-tion.IthasbeenactingasasecretariatofNCST,

scientificdatacollectioncentre,andS&Tpolicyadvicethinktank,encouraginghighperform-ance in S&T workers through cash awards,promotinginternationalcooperationandpub-lishingreportsandreviewsonthestateofS&Tin Pakistan. The role assigned to PCST is in-deedhighly relevant andenormously signifi-cant.Thehumanandfinancial sourcesputatthedisposalofPCST,however,donotmatchwith theachievementsexpected fromthisor-ganization.

18. Itis,therefore,ofparamountimportancethatPCSTisstrengthenedanditsroleenhancedthroughthefollowingmeasures:

i. PCSTshouldberecognizedasanautono-mousbodyundertheMinistryofScienceandTechnologywithitsstatutesapprovedthroughanactofParliament.

ii. AspecialwingofPCSTshouldbecreatedwithaqualifiedteamofS&TPolicyexpertstoundertakeresearchinpolicyrelatedis-sues on continuedbasis, so that periodicS&T policy reviews can be undertakenwithoutstartingtheprocessabinitio.

iii. PCSTshouldbeprovidedadequatefundsand human resources to perform itspresentfunctions,listedbelow,inamoreefficientway.

(a) To advise the Federal Governmentonallmatterspertainingtothedevel-opmentof scienceand technology incountry.

(b) Toundertakepolicyresearch,organ-izestudygroups/task forces, formu-latepolicyproposals,monitoringandevaluationofS&Tpolicyforachievingtargetsfortheoveralldevelopmentofscienceandtechnologyinthecountry.

(c) Toidentifypriorityareasforresearchanddevelopmentkeepinginviewthefuturistic developments of scienceandtechnology.

(d) To constitute expert committees invariousdisciplinesforpreparationof



reports on policies and issues of na-tionalimportanceinrespectofscienceandtechnology.

(e) Toact as the secretariat forNationalCommissiononScienceandTechnol-ogy(NCST).

(f) Tocollect,updatestatisticsandmain-taindatabaseonscienceandtechnol-ogypotentialsofthecountry.

(g) To take measures for effective col-laboration between academia, R&Dorganizations and industry for de-velopment of indigenousproducts /technologies.

(h) To promote quality R&D culture inthe country, evaluation of nationalresearch and development activitiesincluding output of individuals andinstitutionsandtograntawards/in-centivesthereof.

(i) Topromote collaborationamongna-tionalandinternationalorganizationsfor promotion and capacity buildinginscienceandtechnologyandtoenterintoMoUs,contractsetc.

(j) Toparticipateinnationalscienceandtechnology planning and develop-mentactivitiesandprovidingadviceonselectionofprojects.

(k) Topromoteorimplementprojectsofnationalimportance.

(l) Any other function assigned by theFederalGovernment.

3.4 ProvincialDepartmentsofScienceandTechnology

19. Themajor part of productive activity inindustrialandagriculturesectorisnecessaryattheprovinciallevel.Theexecutionofdevelop-mentprojectsaswellastheconservationandsustainableuseofnaturalresourcesismainlythe responsibility of the provinces.MoreovertheresultsofR&Deffortespeciallyinthefields

ofagriculture,healthandindustryhavetobeutilizedbydifferentagenciesoftheProvincialGovernments.TheKhyberPakhtunkhwaGov-ernment has already set up aDepartment ofScienceandTechnology,anexampletobeem-ulatedbyotherProvincialGovernments[].Inadditiontotheirprovincespecificroles, theseDepartmentsmayalsoserveasthefocalpointfor:

i. CommunicationwithPCST and the Fed-eralMinistryofScienceandTechnology.

ii. Planning and implementation of coordi-nated inter-disciplinary and inter-depart-mentalS&Tprogrammesattheprovinciallevel.

iii. Creation of site-specific technologies ap-propriatetotheneedsofvariousareasde-pendingonthelocalconditionsandnatu-ralresources.

iv. Promptandeffectivedisseminationofre-searchresultstotheendusers.

20. Theinstitutionalreformspertinenttofor-mulation,executionandmonitoringofthepol-icyimplementationwillbecarriedoutwiththehelpoffollowingactions:

PolicyActions:

A4. Re-compositionofNCSTandECNCST.

A5. TheestablishmentofPCSTasanauton-omousbody through anAct of Parlia-ment.

A6. Establishment of a well-staffed ST&IPolicycellinPCST.

A7. Coordinationwith theProvincialGov-ernments to establish and operational-ize provincial Departments of ScienceandTechnology.

A8. StrengtheningofTechnicalWingsintheMinistryofScienceandTechnologyforevaluationandmonitoringofR&Dac-tivities.


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4.HumanResources

21. Development of human resources is themostimportantaspectofanyscienceandtech-nologypolicy,aswithoutanadequatenumberof well trained scientific and technical man-poweratalllevels(i.e.researchersandtechni-cians)anyinvestmentinbuildingsandequip-mentwouldbe counterproductive.While thetechnicallyadvancednationshaveresearchersintherangeof2,000to5,000permillionpopu-lation, Pakistan has only 162[ ]. The positionof the technician levelmanpower is similarlyinadequatei.e.64technicianspermillion[],ascomparedto1500-2500inadvancedcountries.InordertoaddresstheissueofcreatinganS&Tworkforce, which is well-qualified, appropri-ately trained, motivated, disciplined, qualityconsciousandendowedwithastrongsenseofresponsibility towards theirassignments, it isnecessarytotakeaholisticviewofallphasesof human intellectual development. Scientifictrainingessentiallystartsrightfromthecradlewhenthechildstartspickingupthecause-ef-fect relationships. The process should trans-form into a scientific ‘attitude’, whereby ra-tionalandanalyticalapproachbecomesahabitofmind.Coupledwithethicalstandards,suchashonesty,truth,consciousnessofone’srightsandobligations,andrespectforlaw;abodyofpeoplecannaturallygrowtobecomeastrong,prosperous, civilizedsociety.Therefore,ST&Ipolicy has to prescribe measures that influ-encethegrowthofachildrightfromhomeandthroughtheentireensuinglifeasaresponsibleandproductivecitizen.

22. In the following sections, the overallschemeofeducationandtrainingofallcatego-riesofpeopleatallstagesoflifeisconsidered,with separate sections on S&T service struc-tures, working conditions and motivationalmeasuresfortheiroptimalperformance.Creat-ingamind-setinwhichinnovationandassimi-lationoftechnologyoccursnaturallyandanyachievementsinthisrespectarereveredbythesociety,isataskthatwouldhavetobeimple-mentedthroughavarietyofmeansoverape-riodofdecades.Thesocialstatusandfinancial

rewardsattachedwithanyfieldofactivityarethenatural attractors formanpowerbuild-upinthatsphere.Theopportunitiesprovidedandincentives given to selected individuals withinherent aptitude, level of intelligence andabilitieswouldinevitablycreatealargepoolofrequiredmanpoweroutofahugeyoungpop-ulationgroup,whichinPakistanisatalevelofabout50%belowtheageof20.

4.1 EducationandTraining

23. The present policy endorses the visionadopted in the “National Education Policy- 2009”; states “our education system mustprovidequalityeducationtoourchildrenandyouthtoenablethemtorealizetheirindividualpotentialandcontributetodevelopmentofso-cietyandnation,creatingasenseofPakistaninationhood, the concepts of tolerance, socialjustice,democracy,theirregionalandlocalcul-ture and history based on the basic ideologyenunciated in the Constitution of the IslamicRepublicofPakistan”.Italsotakesnoteoftheobservationsmadeinthesaidpolicydocument(partofpara34).“OntheEducationDevelop-ment Index, which combines all educationalaccess measures, Pakistan lies at the bottomwith Bangladesh and is considerably lowerthan Sri Lanka. A similar picture emergesfromthegrossenrollmentratiosthatcombinealleducationsectorsandbytheadultliteracyratemeasures.”Toaddressspecificaspectsofeachphaseofeducation, learningandspecialtrainings,thiscategoryisfurtherdividedintodifferentgroupsasdiscussedinthefollowingsubsections.

4.1.1 General Education of Sciences

24. Scientific and technical talent has to benurturedfromaveryyoungage.Startingfromtheprimaryschool,where thepupilsneed tobeintroducedtostudyofnature,throughthesecondary school, where more emphasis isneeded on ‘doing science’ rather than ‘learn-ingscience’throughpassiveabsorptionofin-formation.Attheendofschooleducationthestudentsshouldhaveabasicunderstandingofscienceandhowitsprinciplesaffecttheirdaily

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lives, insteadof thecurrentrote learningandreproductionintheexaminations.TheUniver-sity educationhas to be geared towardspro-ducingconfident,capableandcreativegradu-ates.

Primary level

25. Theevaluationofthecurrentsituationintheprimaryleveleducationcategoryhasbeenreported by the National Education Policy -2009 in the following words. “Despite someprogress in recent years access rates remainlow,…….”, “Net Enrollment Ratio [NER] at66%forprimaryeducationarethelowestcom-pared to theselectedreferencecountries.ThesurvivalratetoGrade5is72%”.Ofmostcon-cernarethefacilitiesavailabletoyoungpupiland the quality of education imparted, espe-ciallywith reference to science, environment,sanitation and social responsibility. A childwhoisunawareofthesignificanceofpersonalhygiene, cleanlinessof environment inhome,schoolandpublicplaces,responsibleuseofre-sources suchaswater andelectricity, ismostlikelytobehavelikean‘illiterate’inspiteofthecertificatesof ‘qualifications’ indicatingother-wise.TheState’sresponsibilityinthisconnec-tionistoprovidesufficientnumberofschoolswithadequatefacilities,enoughteacherswhoknowthesignificanceofthefoundationalroleplayed by them in creating future citizens ofPakistan, and syllabi that encourage and en-hancenaturalcuriosityofyoungminds.

26. SomeofthepolicyelementsforearlyS&Teducationarelistedbelow:

i. Thesyllabiforscienceatjuniorschoollev-elswillbe reviewed in consultationwiththe federal and provincial education or-ganizations / departments. The focus ofthesyllabiwillbetoinitiatethinkingproc-essamongstudentsandcreateinterestinthingsaroundthemandhelpunderstandthese on scientific basis. To ensure this,curriculadevelopmentcommitteewillbeconstituted at provincial/regional lev-elsheadedbythefacultymembersofthehighereducationinstitutionsintheprov-

ince/region and selected teachers fromjuniorandseniorschools.MinistryofSci-enceandTechnologyincollaborationwiththe federal and provincial education or-ganizations / departments will organizeareviewofthesecurriculabyforeignex-perts.

ii. MinistryofScienceandTechnologyincol-laborationwiththefederalandprovincialeducation organizations / departmentswill develop a training programme forjuniorschoolteacherson‘howtoteachsci-ence’.Intheinitialphase,mastertrainerswill be trained at the education depart-ments of the national universities by ar-rangingthenationalandforeignresourcepersons. In the secondphase, themastertrainerswillbeassignedtheresponsibili-tiestotraintheschoolteachersatthedis-trictlevel.Thetrainingwillbeopentoalljuniorschoolteachersandwillbemanda-tory.

iii. In schools, students will be encouragedtoparticipateinthecreativeactivitiesrel-evant to science and their work will bedisplayedintheclassroomstogivethemconfidence.Atschool level,anexhibitionwill be arranged annually showing thecreativework of the students. ProvincialEducationDepartmentswillensureavail-abilityoffundsforprovisionofnecessaryitemsandmaterialforthispurpose.

iv. A visit to nearby science museum andan institutionofhighereducation for thestudentswill be arranged once in a yearto generate sustained interest among theschoolstudents.

v. Availability of small story bookswritteninamannertodemonstratesomescientificaspectofeverydaylifewillalsocreatein-terestamongstudents.MinistryofScienceandTechnologyincollaborationwithNa-tionalBookFoundationmayhelpeithertoencouragewritingofnewbooksbythelo-cal authorsor to re-publish/translate thealreadyavailablebooks.


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vi. While noting that almost one-third ofprimary school age children remain outof school, the National Education Policyhas a targetof 100%enrollmentby2015.TheadditionalemphasisthatST&Ipolicyshouldprovideisthatthestudentsshouldhave imbibed thequalitiesof inquisitive-ness,cleanlinessanddiscipline.

27. The minimal actions required to imple-mentthispolicyareasfollows:

PolicyActions:

A9. Reviewofsyllabiforscienceatprimarylevelwithemphasisaccordedtodevel-opment of creative thinking andprob-lemsolvingskills.

A10. Enhancementofteachers’skillsandap-proachesconcerning ‘howto teachsci-ence’.

A11. Motivational programmes for studentstoengageincreativeactivities.

A12. Schemesforinvokinginterestinscienceand acquisition of relevant knowledgeattheveryearlyage.

Secondary and Higher Secondary Education

28. At theSecondaryandHigherSecondaryEducation, the students develop interests orotherwise in scientific disciplines dependingon how scientific subjects are taught and thelevelofinterestthatthesestudiesgenerate.IntheNational EducationPolicy, 2009 it is not-edthat,“thesecondaryandhighersecondaryschoolsystempreparesyoungpeopleforlife.Ithastwoimportantrolesinthisrespect;inpro-vidingskillstothelabourmarket,asmanystu-dentsleaveformalschoolingatthistime,andstartprovidinginputtothetertiarysystem.Thesystemdoesnotprovideanadequatebaseforboththesefunctions.Thedisadvantageoftherural area at the secondary levelGER (GrossEnrollmentRatio) is rather large: (48%urbanversus22%ruralinboth2005-06and2007-08)”.Thisisalsotheperiodwhenstudentsmakede-cisionsabouttheircareerchoices.Thisdecision

isinfluencedby:

i. Thenaturalinterestofthestudentinapar-ticularsubject/field.

ii. Theprospectsofagoodcareerwithasal-arythatwouldprovidereasonablefinan-cialsecuritytothemandtheirfamilies.

iii. The quality of teaching faculty, while agoodteachercaninspireastudent,abadorindifferentteachercanactuallydriveastudentawayfromaparticularsubject.

29. Inordertoattract thebeststudents, it isimperativethatcareersinscienceandtechnol-ogy,especiallyteachingandresearch,aremadeasattractiveasothersubjectssuchasbusinessadministration.WhiletheTenureTracksystemintroduced recently by HEC in public sectoruniversities has succeeded in attracting stu-dents to a career in teaching, theBPS systemofsalariesprevalentinthepublicsectorR&Dorganizationshasfailedtoattractgoodqualitymanpower to a career in research. The avail-ability of well-equipped science laboratoriesandlibrariesisaprerequisiteforscienceteach-ingatthislevel.

30. Forimprovingthequalityofteaching,thein-service training of college teachers shouldfocusnotonlyontheirknowledgeofthesub-ject but also on the methods of transferringthatknowledgetotheirstudents.Further,sci-encebasedextra-curricularactivitiesincollegewouldalsokeeptheinterestofstudentsaliveinacareerinS&Tratherthanbusinessadmin-istration, or other subjects. On the average,science teachers in colleges spendmore timeon teaching than their colleagues in humani-tiesorsocialsciences.It is, therefore, justifiedthattheyshouldreceiveanadditionalScienceTeachingAllowanceascomparedtotheircol-leagues.

31. Thepolicyelementsrequiredatthislevelofeducationare:

i. The curricula for science subjects at sec-ondaryandhighersecondarylevelswillbedevelopedinconsultationwiththefederal

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andprovincialeducationorganizations/departments.Toensurethatcurriculaareatparwithanydevelopedcountries,con-sultationofforeignsubjectspecialistswillbeacquired.

ii. The low-availability of qualified andtrainedscience teachers is themajorcon-straint for impartingquality scienceedu-cation in schools. The problem is morepronounced in schools situated in ruraland remote localities. The available sci-enceteachersprefertostayinurbanareasmainly due to opportunities for privatecoachingofstudentsafterschoolhours.Toovercometheshortageofqualifiedteach-ers,thescienceteachingprofessionneedstobemademoreattractive for theyouththrough better service structures. Intro-duction of ‘science teaching allowance’equivalentto50%ofthebasicsalarymayhelptoattractmoreyouthtoadoptscienceteaching. Similarly, teachers working inruralandremoteareasneedtobecompen-satedwithallowancetothesametune.

iii. Capacity development programmes forscience teachers will help refresh theirknowledgeandlearnnewteachingmeth-ods. For this purpose, basic sciences de-partmentsandtheeducationdepartmentsof the selected universities will be moti-vated to initiateshortprofessionaldevel-opment courses for science teachers insummerandwintervacations.MinistryofScienceandTechnologywillframeacom-prehensive training programme in con-sultationwith the federal and provincialeducation organizations / departmentsand local universities. Foreign trainingprogramme for science teacherswill alsobe initiated in collaborationwithHigherEducationCommission and foreignpart-ners such as US Education Foundation,AusAIDetc.

iv. Ithasbeenobservedthatmostofthesec-ondary andhigher secondary schoolsdonot posses adequate and good qualitylaboratory facilities. There are no hands-

onexperimentationfacilitiesforstudents.The provincial education departmentswillensuremodestfundingforprovisionofscientificinstrumentsandconsumables.Ministry of Science and Technologywilldevelopminimum requirement for labo-ratoriesinthesciencesubjectstohelppro-vincialdepartmentstoestablishsuchlabs.Ministryof Science andTechnologymayinitiate one-time grants for developmentof lab facilities in remote and lessdevel-opedareas.

v. Presently,thereisnomechanismforhelp-ing students tomake decision about thechoiceof theircareers inscience.Theen-trance in higher secondary level educa-tionisacrucialperiodforthestudentstodecide their educational path which ul-timately leads to their future careers. Inthecosmopolitanenvironment,theurbanstudentshavemoreexposuretotheinfor-mationandarenetworkedascomparedtostudents in remote areas. Establishmentof student counseling offices at districtlevel and theperiodic visits of the coun-selingstafftosecondaryschoolswillhelpthestudents toselectappropriatesciencedisciplines,keepinginviewthestudents’naturalinterestinaparticularfield,pros-pectsofagoodcareer, jobopportunities,andfinancialsecurityetc.

vi. Theuniversitiesandhighereducationin-stitutions need to come forward to helplocal communities to promote education.Universitiesusuallyhavequalifiedfacultyin various science disciplines who mayhelp in improving standard of scienceteachingatschoollevel.Theirinvolvementincurriculadevelopment, teachers’ train-ing, establishing lab facilities, deliveringlecturesatschoolsonspecifictopics,invit-ingschoolstudentstovisituniversityandsciencelabswillhelpimpartqualityedu-cationandinspirethestudents.Thedona-tion of relatively outdated IT equipmentsuchasprojectors,multimedia,computersandlabequipmenttoschoolswillprovide


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betterutilizationoftheseitemsratherthandumping.

32. SomeofTheproposedactionsare:

PolicyActions:

A13. Development of the curricula at sec-ondary andhigher secondary levels insuchamannerastoincreaseinterestinscienceandtechnologyamongthestu-dents.

A14. Ensuring the availability of qualifiedand trained teachers at secondary andhigher secondary schools for teachingofsciencesubjects.

A15. Provisionoffullyequippedsciencelab-oratoriesat schools todemonstrate thecurricularelatedexperiments.

A16. Devising counseling programme forstudents tohelpselect thesciencesub-jectmoreappropriatetotheiraptitude.

University Education

33. Byjoiningauniversitydegreeprogrammeastudentisalreadycommittedtopursueacho-sencareer.Atthatstage,itistheresponsibilityof theUniversity to prepare the students fortheirintendedjobmarkets.Specifically,insci-entificandengineeringdisciplines,auniversitygraduatemust have a pedagogical commandon the subject, andalsodevelopedcreativity,innovationandproblem-solvingtraits.

34. Ouruniversitiesneedtofunctionascent-ersforcreationofnewknowledgeandnotjustas degree awarding institutions. Besides pro-ducing competent engineers, doctors, archi-tects etc. for the job market, the universitiesneedtoproduceresearchscientistscapableofworkingattheleadingedgeofscience.Univer-sitystudents’designandinnovationskillswillbepolishedbyproviding industrial exposurethroughindustrialtrainingsthatwillhelpthembetterunderstandtheindustrialprocessesandwillprovideafirmbaseforresearch.TheUni-versities/Institutes of higher learningwill be

encouragedtoactivelyparticipateinthetech-nologyparksinordertodevelopskillsrelatedto product design, invention, innovation, ad-aptation,andtechnologicalreproduction.TheprogrammesandinitiativesoftheHigherEdu-cationCommissionfortheproductionofhigh-level manpower, both locally and in foreignuniversities, are expected to yield dividendsin theshapeofavailabilityofa largenumberof PhDs in the near future. Thiswill help toalleviate the present acute shortage of goodquality S&Tmanpower both in the universi-tiesandresearchorganizations.However,thecurrentstressonquantityshouldincreasinglybereplacedbyemphasisonquality.Further,atpresent,thedoctoralprogrammesarerandomand lack long-term commitment, as they arebeing implemented as development projects.These shouldgraduallybe replacedbyaNa-tional PhD Scholarship Programme to caterfor an assured and regular supply of highlytrainedmanpower.Inadditiontoalocalcom-ponent,thisprogrammeshouldhaveaforeigncomponentfortrainingofscientistsinnewandemergingfieldswherethelocalcapacityneedsto be built or strengthened. Mechanisms forlifelonglearningandin-servicecontinuationofeducationshouldalsobestrengthened.

35. WhiletheresearchorganizationswillalsobenefitfromthemanpowertrainedunderHECprogrammes,therelativelylargepublicsectorR&Dorganizations,suchasPARC,PCSIRetc.shouldhave theirown, targetedprogrammesforHRDasper theirownrequirements.ThiswouldideallybeintheshapeofPhDscholar-shipsfornewentrantsaswellaspostdoctoraltraining in specific, pre-determined areas fortheirexistingemployees.Thisapproach,adopt-edintheearlyyearsofestablishmentofPAEC,providedarelativelylargebodyofwell-trainedmanpower thatwasusednotonly forPAEC,butalsoforestablishingotherinstitutionssuchasQuaid-e-AzamUniversity,KRL,NESCOMetc.Amegaproject“StrengtheningofHRDinMoSTanditsOrganizations-Developmentof400 PhDs” submitted by PCSIR has alreadybeen approved by ECNEC in February 2008with cost ofRs. 2898.98million and 08 years

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duration.TheProjecthasprovisionforthede-velopmentof400PhDsand200PostDoctoralFellowshipforS&Torganizations.Theprojecthasnotbeen launchedyetandshouldbe im-plementedathighpriority.

36. TheHigherEducation systemshouldbeinlinewiththeworldwideparadigmshiftfrom“Teaching” to “Learning”, programmes ofstudyensuringmaximalabsorptionofsubjectmatter by the students. Changing innovationprocessesandevolutionoftherelativecontri-butionmadebytheprivateandpublicsectorshaveemphasizedtheneedforstrongindustry-university linkages, allowing both sectors tointeractandcollaborateonjointprojects.High-ereducationsectorisamajorforceforinnova-tion. Universities and colleges through local,regional, national and international partner-shipsmust share their expertise and facilitiesto support socio-economic regeneration andgrowth.Movement in the global knowledge-societywould requireuniversities todevelopintodiverse, self-analyticalandadaptableen-terprises.Onlyasectorthatisactivelyengagedinmeetingtheneedsofitsstakeholderswouldbeadequatelyprepared to respond to theac-celerated pace of change the global marketswouldinevitablyundergointhe21stcentury.

37. Policyinitiativesthatneedtobetakentomakehigher educationwell alignedwith thenationalproductivityandinnovationaregivenbelow:

i. Presently,5.1%of theyouthbetween theage of 17-23 years have access to highereducation in Pakistan. A good percent-age of students start their educationalprogrammes in the engineering and sci-encedisciplinesbutveryfewendupwithhigherdegreesandchoosecareers insci-entific research. Most of the universitiesfunction as degree awarding institutionsrather than centres for creation of newknowledge.Thereisaneedtoexpandtheaccess to higher education to fully capi-talize thepotential ofourpredominantlyyoungpopulation.AstargetedinNationalEducationPolicy2009,stepsshallbetaken

toraiseenrolmentinhighereducationsec-torfromexisting4.7%to10%by2015and15%by2020.Investmentinhighereduca-tionshallbeincreasedto20%oftheeduca-tionbudgetalongwithanenhancementofthetotaleducationbudgetto7%ofGDP.[NationalEducationPolicy,2009].

ii. Higher Education Commission has initi-ated the human resource developmentprogrammebysendingscholarsintechno-logicallyadvancedcountriesforPhDpro-grammesandalsodeveloped the indige-nouscapacityof thenationaluniversitiesby encouraging the scholars to enroll inresearchdegrees locally.Presently,about10,000scholarsareenrolledinPhDdegreeprogrammesbothwithinthecountryandabroad. The human resource develop-ment programme needs to be continuedthrough the provision of scholarships.Asplitresearchdegreeprogramme(2yearsin localuniversityand2years in foreignuniversity) or dual degree programmewithfulllocaltuitionwillbeencouraged.

iii. Ministry of Science and Technology andHigher Education Commission will helpdevelop specialized laboratories in re-searchandeducation institutions arounda clusterofprofessionals like theKoreanandJapanesemodelinwhicheachseniorresearcherhashis/herownspecializedlabandagroupofresearchers.

iv. Higher Education Commission haslauncheddigitallibraryprogrammewhichprovidesaccessto75,000numberofelec-troniccontent.Theaccesswillbeprovidedtoalltheresearchandscientificorganiza-tionstobetterutilizethefacilities.

v. Anattractivecareerwillbeofferedtothescientists and engineers by offering Spe-cialPayScalesorTenureTrackSysteminresearchandeducationalinstitutions.Thepromotion formula for the scientists andengineerswillbebasedontheweightingsofresearchpublications,patents,lengthofservice etc. and scientists and engineers


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willbecategorizedasS1,S2….andE1,E2….afterachievingapredefinedquantita-tivelevels.Theremunerationofthescien-tistsandengineerswillbefixedaccordingtothecategories.

vi. ExpatriatePakistani engineers and scien-tistsworkingabroadwillbeencouragedtoworkinnationalresearchandeducationalinstitutions.An attractive salary packagewillbeofferedalongwiththeresearchfa-cilitiesfortheseprofessionals.

vii. Scientists and engineers will be encour-agedbyawardingprizesfortheirachieve-ments annually. A list covering all thescientificdisciplinesrangingfromnaturalsciences to physical sciences will be de-veloped toencourageprofessionals inallscientificdisciplines,e.g.NaturalSciencesPrize, Technological InventionPrize, Sci-enceandTechnologyProgressPrize,andInternationalScienceandTechnologyCo-operationPrize.

viii.Abalancebetween thebasicandappliedresearchwillbedevelopedtohelpencour-age the creation of new knowledge andmarketabletechnologies.

ix. Techno-entrepreneurship is lacking innationalresearchandeducationalinstitu-tionsatpresent.Themainconstraintinitsdevelopmentistendencyoftheindividualandprivate sector tobe reluctant to takethe risk. This can be promoted by shar-ing the risk. Technology Incubation andBusinessDevelopmentcentresinresearchandeducationalinstitutionswillbesetuptopromotetheappliedresearchandalsoprovideaplatformfortheyoungentrepre-neurs.

38. Someofthepracticalmeasurestorealizetheseobjectivesareasfollows:

PolicyActions:

A17. Access to scientific, engineering andtechnical higher education to be in-creasedbyenhancingtheexistingfacili-

tiesandestablishingnewinstitutions.

A18. Thequalityofeducationtobeenhancedthrough provision of qualified faculty,up-gradationof labs,andaccess tosci-entificinformation.

A19. Attracting talented students with anaptitude for research by providing as-suredcareeropportunitiesinacademia,industryandothersectors.

A20. Developmentofmechanismforlinkageandmobilityofprofessionalsamongtheacademia,industryandresearchinstitu-tions.

A21. Promotionofappliedresearchthroughtechnologyincubationandbusinessde-velopment centres at educational andresearchinstitutions.

4.1.2TechnicalandVocationalEduca-tion

39. Qualifiedtechniciansconstitutetheback-bone of industrial production and services,neededforhomeandofficeappliances.TheNa-tionalskillsstrategy(2009-2013)documenthascorrectly identified the contemporary trendsfor the demand of skilled labour shaped by(i)changesinexistingtechnologiesandemer-genceofnewones,(ii)emergenceofglobalizedmarkets,(iii)increasinginternationalcompeti-tion,(iv)thenecessitytoattractForeignDirectInvestment,and(v)newmodesofmanufactur-ing,businessmodelsandmarketingstrategies.

40. Unfortunately, the Technical and Vo-cational education is the weakest link in theS&Tmanpowerchain.AccordingtoUNESCO(2007) estimates Pakistan has 64 techniciansper million population, while this figure forthe technically advanced countries is in therangeof1500to2500.Therearecurrentlyonly255,636[ ] enrolled students across 3,125[5]technical andvocational educationand train-ing institutes in Pakistan. Despite the estab-lishmentofTEVTAinPunjabandNAVTECattheCentre,thenationalrequirementoftechni-cally trained personnel cannot be adequately

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met.TherecentinitiativebyNAVTECofcrashprogrammes for vocational training is a stepintherightdirectionandneedstobepursuedmorevigorouslywithincreasedoutreach.Theprogrammes of NAVTEC, TEVTA and simi-laragenciesinotherprovincesneedtobeen-hancedmanifoldinordertomeetthenationalrequirementaswellaspreparingtrainedman-powerforemploymentabroad.

41. ThesuccessfulexampleofthePak-SwissTraining Centre of PCSIR at Karachi, whichimparts training in precision mechanics andwhosegraduatesareinhighdemandinthein-dustrialsectorwasagoodexampleofdemanddriven skill development. More centers fortraininginothertradessuchasforging,casting,metalworkingetc.alsoneedtobeestablished.Ifcombinedwithaformalapprenticeshippro-grammeinthelocalindustrialsector,thispro-grammewouldgoalongwaytowardssolvingtheproblemof non-availability of technicallycompetent manpower. The PCSIR has nowestablished similarPrecisionSystemTrainingCentres at Lahore, Peshawar&Quetta and aCastMetal & Foundry Technology Centre atDaskawhichareinoperation.

42. The lack of trained technicalmanpowerfor the operation and maintenance of majorlaboratoryequipment,suchaselectronmicro-scopes,spectrometers,gaschromatographsetc.isamajorproblemforuniversitiesandresearchestablishments.Thisnotonlyinvolvesconsid-erableexpenditureonrepairbythesuppliers,butalsocausesdisruptionintheresearchworkduetolongerthannecessarydowntimeoftheequipment. To address this issue, technicaluniversitiessuchasNUST,CIIT,GIKInstituteandtheUniversitiesofEngineeringandTech-nology should initiate specialized courses ontheoperationandmaintenanceofmajorlabo-ratory equipment. The technicians producedby these universities, who would be able tooperate anduse the equipment for analyticalworkaswell asmaintain and repair themasand when necessary, would be in great de-mandintheresearchinstitutionsanduniversi-ties. PCSIR has establishedRepairCentres at

Karachi,Lahore,Peshawar&Islamabad.TheseCentres are equippedwith necessary repair/diagnosticgadgetsbutunfortunatelythesearenotfullyutilizedduetolackofinteractionwithuniversities.AprogrammestartedbyPCSTtoprovide funds for purchase of relatively lessexpensivesparepartsbyanylaboratoryinthecountry,turnedouttobeausefulexercisebe-causeinmostcasesveryhighvalueequipmentwaslyingidlebecauseofreplacementofminorcomponents.

43. The following observationsmade in theNationalSkillsStrategy(2009-2013)areworthnoting and relevant recommendations mustbe supported by the national ST&I system.“InPakistanunfortunately, employersplay anegligibleroleininfluencingwhatistaughtinTVETinstitutes.Becauseofweakinstitutionallinkageswiththeindustry,trainingisdesignedaroundskillsandknowledgethatarenotnec-essarilyrelevanttothemarket”.

“Toprovidetheessentiallinkbetweenindus-try and government, it is proposed to estab-lishsector-specific IndustryAdvisoryGroups(IAG).EachIAGwillberepresentedbymem-bersoflarge,mediumandsmallindustry,in-cluding all sub-industries that fallwithin thecategory, international employers, employeesand civil society. Their primary responsibili-tieswillbetocarryoutperiodicsectorsurveys,identifyskillsneededintheirsectors,indicatenewandemergingareasandoccupationsanddetermine andupdate competency standardsforworkers”.

“Staff training instituteswill be strengthenedintermsofequipmentandvarietyandqualityofcourses.Wherepossible,stafftraininginsti-tuteswillbelinkedwithcentresofexcellenceto ensure the provision of current, relevanttrainingcoursesandmastertrainers”.

4.1.3 In-serviceTraining

44. Learningisacontinuousprocessandthetrainingor re-trainingof the employees is anessentialactivityinadynamicorganization.AsnotedintheNationalSkillsStrategydocument


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“IntheSouthAsianregiontheincidenceofin-servicetrainingisverylow.Amongstthefourlarger South Asian economies, Pakistan hasthe lowest incidenceof in-service training i.e.at8%.Majorreasonsforlowin-servicetraininginPakistanarelowdemandfortraining,highturnoverrateofworkersandlimitedfinancialresources. Small and medium sized firms inparticular,cannotaffordtotraintheirstaffandboththefirmandtheirworkers,remainthere-fore, at a disadvantage”. [TheNational SkillsStrategy,2009-2013].

45. Therearetwocomplementaryaspectsforthesuccessofupgradingthequalificationsorskills of employees engaged by an establish-ment.Firstand foremost is theavailabilityofopportunities. A progressive administrationhas to recognize that their employeeswouldbemoreproductive,iftheyareabletoacquirenewknowledgeandtechnicalknow-how.Theplacementofdesirouscandidates,provisionofrequiredstudytrainingleaveandanyfinancialcompensation thatmaybeneeded forunder-taking the trainingwould encourage the em-ployeestoenhancetheirqualifications.

Thesecondrequirementisthattheemployeesshould themselves be motivated for the ad-vancementoftheircareers.Theadministrationmayusesuchincentivesaspayhikes,promo-tionsorawardofhonorariafortheeffortsun-dertaken by the employees to upgrade theireducationallevels.

4.1.4 Non-formalEducationandTrain-ing

46. Thefragmentationofeducationalsysteminpublic/privateandEnglish-medium/Ur-du-mediumwithavarietyofstandardsrang-ingfromopenskyclassestoposhclass-rooms,isfurtheraggravatedbythepresenceofa“Ma-drassah” system providing exclusively reli-gious education.At the criticalmentaldevel-opmentstageofbelow10yearsoldstudents,the lack of understanding about the physicalworldbasedonlawsofnature,whicharenotatall contradictory to the religious teachings,ultimately results in stunted growth ofmen-

tal faculties. The ensuing social problems aremanifestedintheformofextremismandlackofabsorptioninthemainstreamjobmarket.Ascienceteachingpackagecoveringthebasicsofmathematicsandnaturalsciencescouldbede-velopedandintegratedintoMadrassaheduca-tionsystem,apart fromprovidingopportuni-tiestolearnaspecifictradeofeconomicworth.

47. Inoursociety, technical trainingprocessofyoungstersoutsideanyeducational frame-work also exists. The informal ‘Ustaad’ sys-tem,throughwhichourmechanics,plumbers,welders,electriciansetc.aretrainedinthepri-vatesector,needstoberecognizedandinstitu-tionalized.Theworkshops,wheretheappren-tices are currently learning their trade, couldberecognizedandregisteredwiththeProvin-cial TechnicalBoards asAuthorizedTrainingEstablishments.TheapprenticeswouldalsoberegisteredwiththeTechnicalBoardsandmayberequiredtoattendschoolonedayperweek.Theywouldreceiveacertificateofproficiencyintheirtradeafterdemonstratingtheirskillinapracticalexamination.Thecertificationwouldenhancethechancesofemploymentofthesuc-cessfulapprenticesbothinthelocalaswellastheforeignlabourmarkets.

48. Thetrainingprogrammesfocusingonvo-cationaltrainingorenhancingskillsthroughfor-malorinformalmechanismwouldbeenforcedthroughanumberofactionslistedbelow:

PolicyActions:

A22. Expansion of the network of technicaltrainingfacilities.

A23. Standardization of the training pro-grammestobringthematparwiththeinternationally recognized qualifica-tions.

A24. Regulation of theMadrassh Educationsystemand‘Ustaad’systemofskillde-velopment.

A25. The programmes under National SkillStrategy Policy to be integrated intoS&Tdevelopmentsystem.

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4.2 ServiceConditionsandIncentivesforScientificandTechnicalMan-power

49 In order to ensure that the investmentmade by theGovernment in establishing theS&TinfrastructureandthetrainingoftheS&Tmanpower is used productively, it is neces-sarytoprovideaconduciveenvironmentandfavorableworkingconditions to thescientistsand technologistsworking in theresearches-tablishments.Theintroductionoftheperform-ance-based‘TenureTrack’salarysysteminthepublicsectoruniversitieshassolvedtheprob-lemoflowemolumentsofthefaculty.Similar-ly, theSpecialPayScalessystemprevalent inthestrategicresearchorganizationsandrecent-ly introduced inPARChas, toa largeextent,reducedthesenseofdissatisfactionamongthescientists and technologists working in theseorganizations.However,theBPSsalarysystemprevailingintheorganizationsoftheMinistryof Science and Technology and other publicsector researchorganizationshas failed toat-tract and retaingoodqualityS&Tmanpowerintheseorganizations.Inadditiontothe‘braindrain’ to foreign countries, an internal braindrainistakingplace,wherethemorecapablescientistsarebeingattractedtotheuniversitiesandthestrategicresearchorganizations.Evenfresh graduates, recruited after a lengthy se-lectionprocedure,eitherdonotjoinorleaveafewmonthsafterjoiningforabetter-payingjobinuniversitiesor thestrategicR&Dorganiza-tions.Thisstateofaffairsishighlightedbythefactthat33%ofthepostsinBPS-17toBPS-22intheorganizationsoftheMinistryarevacant.Toaddressthisproblemitisimperativethatuni-form,market-competitivepayscalesbe intro-ducedinallS&TOrganizationsofthecountry.

50. The bulk of public-sector non-strategicR&Disbeingundertakenbyvariousorganiza-tionsunderthecontrolofMinistryofScienceandTechnology.Apartfromlowsalariesandinsufficient research facilities, there is also aweakness in their governance.Often, the na-tureofassignmentsandjobdescriptionisnotwell-defined.Theselectionandpromotioncri-

teriainmostcasesdonotexistornotfollowed.Most of the organizations do not have theirservice rules, training procedures and medi-cal reimbursement regulations. The R&D or-ganizationsunderMoSTneedautonomy,goodgovernance,uniformrulesandregulationsandstrictefficiencycriteriaforcareeradvancementofscientificworkers.Anotherpointofconcernis the overburdening of these organizationswith administrative andfinancial staffwhichcreateshindranceratherthanhelpingscientistsinthemattersthataretheresponsibilityoftheorganizations, resulting in thewastageofsci-entists’precioustime.Theinternationalnormfor ancillary staff is typically of the order of20%,whereasinMoSTorganizationsitisusu-allyoftheorderof40-50%.

51. The heads of the organizations, besidesbeingcapablescientists,needtobegoodman-agers and administrators with the ability toguide and lead a team of researchers. Theyneedtohavetherequisitevisionandresource-fulness to steer the organization towards theachievementofitsobjectives.Theemolumentsof theheadsoforganizations, therefore,needto commensurate with the job requirements.As the current salary packages in BPS-21 orBPS-22have failed toattractcapablepersons,the approval of salary packages in the MPscalesorequivalentisawelcomesteptoattractrightcandidates.ThePrimeMinisterhasalsoapprovedthesummaryofSpecialPayScaletoattract the energetic scientists and the case isnowinMinistryofFinanceforfinalaction.

52. Apartfromlowsalary,thelackofpromo-tions and career advancement opportunitiesaremajorfactors inthedemoralizationof thescientistsworkinginthepublicsectorresearchorganizations.Thisismainlyduetothesmallsizeofthemajorityoftheorganizations,whichseverelylimitstheopportunitiesforcareerad-vancement.Toaddressthisissue,theorganiza-tionsundertheMinistryofScienceandTech-nology should form a single cadre for theiremployeestofacilitatethelateralmovementofemployeeswhosepromotionmightotherwisebeblocked.


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53. PCST report entitled “Proposed ServiceStructure and Technical Pay Scales for Or-ganizationsundertheMinistryofScienceandTechnology” (March, 2006) recommends theadoptionofaperformancebasedservicestruc-tureandpayscalessimilartotheSPSpaypack-ages of the strategic R&D organizations. Theproposedsystem,whichisdesignedalongthelinesoftheTenureTracksystemofthepublicsectoruniversities,permits, interalia,acceler-atedpromotionsbasedonperformanceratherthan seniority-cum-fitness, upgradation ofposts etc. to avoid frustrationof the youngerscientistsduetolackofpromotion.

54. The reformation of employment systemfor S&T careers will be undertaken throughfollowingmeasures:

PolicyActions:

A26. Creationofasinglescientificandengi-neeringcadreforallemployeesofMoSTorganizations on the basis of SPS payscales.

A27. Granting of autonomy to the S&T or-ganizations under Ministry of Scienceand Technology and adoption of uni-form rules, and regulations with per-formancebasedpromotioncriteria.

4.3 MotivationalMeasures

55. Theachievementofexcellencebyanindi-vidualisgreatlyhelpedbyasocialmilieuthatbestowshonoursandawards foroutstandingperformance. In the absence of tangible re-wards for extraordinary effort, there is oftenlittlemotivationtoachievemorethanminimalsatisfactoryoutput.Motivationalmeasurescantakeseveralforms,someofwhichmaybethefollowing:

i. Highlightingtheachievementsofindivid-ualscientists/engineerstocreateanimageofpublicrespectability.

ii. Bestowingcivilawardsandcashprizesforcontributions that are deemed useful forthesociety.

iii. Constituting special national awards forindividuals and organizations that makeimportant contributions towards theprogressofscienceandtechnology.

iv. Awards for specific groups such as bestdesignofanindigenousproduct,innova-tivecommercialization,inventionofasig-nificanteconomicworth,andsoon.

v. Boosting creativity by helping scientistswithpatentregistrationprocessandshar-ingtheprofitsofcommercializedproductswiththeinventor.

56. Thefollowingactionswouldbetakentoimplementmotivationalmeasures andpopu-larizationofscience:

PolicyActions:

A28. Enlarging the scope of prizes andawards for individuals and organiza-tions making important contributionstowards S&T development and publicawarenessoftheirachievements.

A29. Helpingscientistsintheprocessofpat-ent registration and sharing profits ofcommercializedproducts.

4.4 SciencePopularization

57. Thepublicperceptionofscienceandhowit affects the progress of a society is rathermurky,duetonegligiblemediacoverage.Sci-ence and Technology are at best understoodto be alien entities, penetrating our societythroughcommercialventures,benefitingmul-tinational companies and in some cases evenharminglocalculturalvalues.

This perception needs to chang through re-alization that the science and technology is aproductofimaginativethoughtprocess;ithasnoregionalorethnicbias.Anyone,anywhere,witha rationalmindcanprobe the secretsofnatureandfindanswers that canbeused forhumanwelfare. The students always like thesubjectswhich theyfind interesting.Nothingcan bemore inspiring than the awareness of

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thesecretsofvastuniversearoundus,or theevolutionofafantasticvarietyoflife-forms,ortheabilitytocontrolmatteratatomiclevel.Ifateacherisabletoignitethesenseofwonderandcuriosity inastudent, rather thanaskingformemorizingarcanescientifictheorieswith-outcomprehendingtheiressence,thepurposeofmakingsciencepopularwillbeamply ful-filled.TheroleofPSFinthisrespecthastobestrengthened and its outreach enhanced sig-nificantly.

58. The minimal actions envisaged tostrengthensciencepopularizationschemesare:

PolicyActions:

A30. Coverageofscientificlectures,meetingsandreportsonelectronicandprintme-dia.

A31. Strengthening PSF programmes andoutreach for effective dissemination ofinformation evoking public interest insciencethrough,interalia,sciencecara-vansandexhibitions.



5. IndigenousTechnologyDevel-opment

59. Pakistan has traditionally supported aheavilyprotected industryanda largepublicsectorwith little competitionas therewasnopressure on the industry to becomemore ef-ficient. Thus technology, which could havehelped industry become more efficient, pro-ductive and competitive, could not play itsproper role. Both India and China – ChinaduetoitsisolationandIndiathroughdeliber-atelyhightariffs–kepttheirdomesticmarketsclosed to imports until their industrial sectorhad gained sufficient strength to compete intheworldmarket.Theoriginallylowqualityoftheirproductshasovertheyearsbeenreplacedby world-class quality through developmentoflocaltechnologycombinedwithacquisitionof foreign technology (reverse engineering).Theirindustrialproductsarenowinapositiontocompetewiththoseofothermoreadvancedcountries.

60. With the current globalization of tradeandtheWTOregimeoflowtariffstheindus-trialsectorofPakistan is increasinglycomingunder pressure to improve the quality of itsproductsaswellastheefficiencyofitsproduc-tionprocesses tobe competitive in theworldmarket.Thusscienceand technologywillbe-come indispensable for the local industry forintelligentabsorptionof imported technologycoupledwithdevelopmentofindigenoustech-nology.

61. The R&D system of the country is cur-rentlyorientedtowardsthesupplyside,withverylittleinteractionwiththeindustry,whichis the ultimate user of the products or proc-esses developed in the R&D organizations.ThereisnegligibleR&Dactivityintheindus-trial sector, in contrast to the industrializedcountrieswhere the industrial sector isama-jorcontributortotheoverallR&Deffortofthecountry.Thereis,therefore,anurgentneedtore-orient thepublicsectorR&Dorganizationsto demand-driven research in collaborationwiththeindustry.

62. TheST&IPolicy for indigenous technol-ogy development is, therefore, based on thefollowingobjectives:

i. TheR&Dorganizationsshouldbeorientedtowardssolvingtheproblemsoftheindus-tryregardingimprovementoftheirprod-uctsorprocesses. Inthisregard,Govern-ment-Industry partnership programmesshouldbelaunchedwheretheresearcherswillprovidetechnicalassistancetothepri-vate firms/companies. Initially itwill benecessaryforthescientiststodemonstratethat they are in a position to solve theproblemsoftheindustrialistswithinarea-sonabletime-frameandatarelativelylowcost.Oncethisisestablished,theindustri-alistswouldbemorewillingtoapproachtheR&Dorganizationsanduniversitiesofthe country rather than looking towardsforeign countries. The Government canenhancethelinkagesbetweenpublicR&Dorganizations and industries by directlysupporting the industrial activities thatare related to innovation, facilitating thecommercialization of technologies, andsharing thehuman resourcesand techni-calfacilities.

ii. In order to encourage scientists to workontheproblemsofindustry,apartoftheincome generated through research con-tractswith the industrymaybe given tothe scientist/research group involved intheR&Deffort. Similarly, the royalty ac-cruing from the commercialization of apatentmaybesharedaccordingtoanap-provedratioamongtheGovernment, theR&Dorganizationandthescientist(s)whodevelopedthepatent.

iii. EffortsshouldbemadetoattracttheglobalR&Dmanpowerinordertomeettheimme-diateneedsoftheindustry,whileensuringthat Pakistani researchers are adequatelytrained, in their presence, to understandandmeet the futureneedsof thecountry.Pakistani scientists/ engineers serving inforeign countries should also be encour-aged to return to their home country as



theirknowledgeandinternationallinkagesmaybenefittheR&DsectorofPakistan.

iv. The focusof research shouldbedivertedtowardsasmallnumberofstrategicareasthatyieldthehighesteconomicreturnssoas to develop and sustain research capa-bilities in the focused areas aswell as toimprovethecompetitivenessofthecoun-try’s products in international trade. Thereverse-engineeringmethods,whereper-missible,maybeusedwhereverfeasible.

v. The funding mechanisms for researchshould be improved by simplifying ad-ministrative and financial procedures inorder to facilitate the research scientists/engineersinperformingtheirduties.

vi. The R&D organizations of the countryshouldhaveanenhancedfinancialauton-omythatwillresultinamorefocusedap-proach,betterutilizationofhumanandfi-nancialresources,andimproveddecisionmakingprocesses.

vii. Thereisaneedofprovidingwomenwithopportunities of higher learning so thattheytoocouldoptforresearchanddevel-opment as a career. Similarly, scientific/researchactivitiesofyoungscientists/en-gineersneedencouragementandsupport.

viii.The industry, especially the larger unitsmay be motivated to set up their ownR&Destablishments.InIndia,35%ofthefirmshavetheirownR&Dunitswhile inPakistan there are only a few.Appropri-ateincentivesintheformoftaxrebatesontheamountspentonR&Dactivitiesbytheindustrialunitmaybeconsidered.

ix. TheGovernmentshouldinvestinupgrad-ing the S&T development infrastructureof the country by establishing newR&Dorganizations and improving the techni-calfacilitiesoftheexistingones.Current-ly, there is anon-uniformdistributionoflaboratory resources / equipment in theR&D organizations / universities of thecountry. Mechanisms should be devel-

opedtofacilitatethesharingoflaboratoryresourcesamongR&Dorganizationsanduniversities.

x. The R&D organizations should focus onsmallandmediumenterprises(SMEs)thatgenerallydonothavetheresources toes-tablish their own R&D facilities and pro-vide them with technology information,R&D for product/process development,technical training, testing and analyticalfacilities etc. SMEswill be encouraged toemployS&TingeneralandICTsinparticu-lar inorder to improve their internationalbusiness relationships. SMEs will also beencouragedtoformclustersinordertoim-provethequalityoftheirproducts/servicesandinternationalcompetitiveness.

xi. Effortsneedtobemadetomakeoptimumuse of the opportunities offered by theWTO regime by utilizing the relativelylower labour costs,high traditional skillsand a large pool of natural resources todevelopproductsthatcancompeteintheworldmarket.R&DorganizationslikePC-SIRcanhelpSMEsindevelopingproductsusingtheavailablenaturalresources.

xii. R&DorganizationsshouldestablishTech-nology Incubation Centers (TICs) thatprovide affordable factory space as wellas necessary support for business devel-opment, marketing, financing and legalservices to facilitate new start-ups. Theknowledgecapitaloftheuniversitiesandresearch organizations should providetherequisiteinputinthedevelopmentofnewtechnologiesandindustrialproducts.HEChasalreadyinitiatedaprogrammetoencourageuniversitiesinsettingupTICs.

xiii.Following the Chinese model, R&D or-ganizations should be encouraged to setup semi-industrial scale pilot plants formanufacturing and marketing productsdeveloped by them. This will also moti-vate themtocarryouteconomic feasibil-itystudiesbeforestartingtheresearchanddevelopmentwork.



xiv.Develop a viable Metrology, Standards,Testing and Quality (MSTQ) system, toensure thequalityof thePakistanigoodsintheworldmarket.

xv. Exposure of international S&T develop-mentsshouldbeprovidedtotheresearch-ers/scientists of the country. PakistaniR&Dorganizationsshouldbeencouragedtoestablishbranchesinforeigncountries,and foreign R&D organizations shouldbe allowed and encouraged to establishtheirbranchesinPakistan.Effortsshouldbemadetoestablishscientificinformationnetworks among local and internationalR&Dorganizations,focusingonjointR&Dactivitiesandco-developmentoftechnolo-gies.

xvi.The researchersof thecountryshouldbeencouragedtochangefieldsandbefacili-tatedtomovefreelybetweenR&Dorgani-zations,universitiesand industries inor-dertointroducenewideasintheexistingdisciplines and to develop inter-discipli-naryareas.

63. Based on each of the above-mentionedobjectives, a number of actionswould be re-quiredattheleveloffirms,R&DInstitutions,Federal Government and Provincial Govern-ments.Thefollowingmeasureswillbetakeninthisregard:

PolicyActions:

A32. Constitution of a task force with anumber of sub-committees to proposespecificactionswiththeidentificationofagenciesresponsibleforexecutingtheseactionsinordertoachievethefollowingresults.

i. Establishmentofcloselinkagesbetweenindustries and R&D institutions/uni-versities.

ii. Incentivesforscientistsworkingonin-dustry-relatedprojects

iii. Induction of high-quality manpower

fromabroadforaddressinglocalindus-tryissues.

iv. Technicalsupport toSMEsforenhanc-ing thequalityof theirproductsbasedonindigenousresources.

v. EstablishmentoftechnologyincubationcentersinR&Dorganizations.

vi. Prioritization for rapid developmentofselectedindustrieswithhighesteco-nomicbenefits.

vii.Analysis of reverse engineeringpoten-tial and relevant issues, with recom-mendationofexecutionplans.

viii. Collaboration with foreign produc-tionsectortolearnbestpractices.

ix. ImprovementofMSTQsystem.

x. GrantingenhancedfinancialautonomytoR&Dorganizations.

xi. Motivatingbigindustrialenterprisestoset-upresearchwings.

xii.Establishment of new R&D organiza-tionsinmulti-disciplinaryareas.

xiii. Improving laboratory and field fa-cilities of existingR&Dorganizations/universities and creationof adatabaseofequipmentforsharingthelaboratoryresources.

5.1 HighTechnology

64. Inordertoacquirehightechnologywith-in a reasonable time-frame, it is necessary topromote technology transfer throughForeignDirect Investment (FDI) in the shape of jointventures, productionunder license, technolo-gy-sharingagreementsetc.Thereisalsoaneedofestablishingnewandhightechnologyindus-trialdevelopmentzonesinselectedareaswithadequate facilities and conditions. Improvedmechanismsofinformationgathering,evalua-tion,andmonitoringneedtobeestablishedinorder toassess thecountry’sprogress relatedto thedevelopmentofnew technologies.The



effortsoftheBoardofInvestmentforprovid-ing a liberalized environment for technologytransferneedstobeintensified.Incentivessuchastaxholidaysforsettinguphigh-techindus-trialunitswouldgoalongwaytopromoteFDIinsuchindustrialventures.

65. Allotherthingsbeingequal,industrialFDIis attractedby the availabilityof a large stockof technically competent manpower. India,with its large stock of scientific and technicalmanpower,hassucceededinattractingalargequantumofFDIintheformofproductionunitsofmultinationals,softwarehousesandresearchlaboratories of pharmaceutical companies etc.Pakistanneeds to lay special emphasis on thetrainingofitstechnicalmanpoweratalllevels.A largely literate and technically competentpopulationisanasset,asskilledmanpowerisingreatdemandallovertheworld.

66. Thestrengtheningofhightechnologysec-torwillbeachievedthroughfollowingactions:

PolicyActions:

A33. AttractingFDIinadvancedtechnologyproductionthroughfinancialincentivesandprovisionofphysicalinfrastructure.

A34. Ensuring the availability of localman-power suitable for absorption in hightechcompanies.

5.2 IncentivesforDevelopmentofTechnology

67. Topromotetheindigenousdevelopmentof technology, the government would alsoneedtoimproveitsincentivestructures.Inad-dition to taxation regimes and market-basedinstruments,preferentialgovernmentprocure-ment of locally produced goods can also beusedtopromotetechnologicalinnovationandgenerate markets for new locally producedproducts.Thesemeasureswouldfosterthecre-ationofsmallandmediumenterprises,whichwouldplayaleadingroleinthedevelopmentof newopportunities and the use of technol-ogy. Special additional incentives might be

necessary to encourage new high-tech start-ups infields such as biotechnology, informa-tiontechnology,nanotechnologyetc.Itneeds,however,tobeensuredthattheincentivesarenotmisused inacquiringobsoleteorobsoles-centtechnology.Thereisaneedofinitiatinganawardingsystem in thecountry inwhich theindividuals/organizations/companieswill berewarded for their outstanding contributionstowardstheadvancementofS&T.

68. The following steps are essential for en-couragingthedevelopmentofappropriatelo-caltechnologies:

PolicyAction:

A35. Devising a public procurement policythat gives preference to indigenousproductsandprocesses.

5.3 TechnologyforSocio-economicDe-velopment

69. There is an urgent need for developingtechnologies thatmay facilitate the economicandsocialdevelopmentofthecountrybyad-dressing the basic needs of the people, andenhancing the competitiveness of country’sindustriesintheinternationalarena.TheJapa-nese, Taiwanese and SouthKorean economicmiraclesarenoteworthyexamples.Due to itsdefense compulsions and despite relativelysmall industrialbase,Pakistanhas succeededindevelopingtechnologyfortheproductionofdefenseequipmentatgreatcosttothenation.Itisnowtimeforutilizingthestoreofexpertiseandtechnicalknow-howavailableinthestra-tegic researchorganizations for the economicdevelopmentofthecountry.Forthispurpose,acommitteecomprisingtherepresentativesofMoST,SPDandtheindustryshouldworkoutwaysandmeanstotransfertheknow-howtothe industrial sector. Implementation of thisconceptwouldgivealargeboosttotheindus-trialsectorandwouldcontributetoincreasingtheshareofmanufacturedgoodsintheexportmixofthecountry.

70. Appropriateapplicationsoftheavailable



technology to address social development is-sues,suchasprovisionofsafedrinkingwater,oruseofrenewableenergyresourcesforpro-vidingelectricitytomarginalizedpopulationsinfarflungareascangreatlyimprovethequal-ityof lifeof thepeople and contribute to theachievementof theMillenniumDevelopmentGoals.Emphasisshouldbelaidonconductingresearch in order to develop technologies forimprovingclimateandenvironmentalchangeforecasting capabilities, and predicting andhandling emergencies such as earthquakes,floodsetc.TheR&Dorganizationsshouldfocusondevelopingsimpletechnologies,whichcanbeproducedbythelocalindustry,toaddresssuchproblems.Thiswouldgenerateeconomicactivityandemploymentinthelocalindustrialsector and contribute to the economic devel-opmentof thecountry.Moreover, inorder totransfer the latest technologies/knowledge totheindustry,technologyparksshouldbecreat-edunderuniversitiesandR&Dorganizationsof the country so as to transform knowledgeintoproductsandservicesthatresultinsocio-economicdevelopment.

71. To address the problem of rural unem-ployment (MDG: reduction of poverty) ap-propriatetechnologiesandproductsbasedonlocally available rawmaterial need to be de-veloped,andthevillageindustries(smallandmedium) should be assisted and encouragedin developing collective brands. Through itsSPARKprogramme,whichusedthisconcept,China succeeded not only in reducing ruralunemployment, but also in establishing a ru-ral industrial base,which currently producesgoodswhoseexportvalueisequaltothegoodsproducedbyitslargeindustrialunits.Asimi-larprogrammemaybeinitiatedinPakistan,inwhichtheorganizationsoftheMinistryofSci-enceandTechnologywouldplay the leadingrole indeveloping technologiesandproductsbasedonthelocallyavailablerawmaterials.

72. Appropriate technologies for directlybenefitting common man will be developedandemployedthroughthefollowingsteps:

PolicyActions:

A36. Utilizingtheknow-howdevelopedbyalargepoolofhighlyqualifiedmanpow-er in strategic organizations for indus-trialapplications.

A37. Developingsimple technologies for re-lieving the concerns of deprived sec-tionsofsociety,relatedtowater,energy,housing,hygieneetc.

A38. Takingstepstoenhancetheshareofcot-tageindustryinnationaleconomy.

5.4 CodificationofIndigenousKnowl-edge

73. Pakistan’s S&T policy has not taken ac-countsofaroftheindigenousbasesofknowl-edgeandtechnology.Thetransferoftechnol-ogyshouldbesensitivetothelocalknowledgebase.Inthisregard,effortsshouldbemadetocreateharmonybetweenthetechnologybeingtransferredanddiffusedandthestocksof in-digenous knowledge and capabilities. SouthAfrica’s Department of Science and Technol-ogy has established the National IndigenousKnowledge Systems Office (NIKO) to pro-mote indigenous knowledge in SouthAfrica.Oneofthemanystepstakentowardsthisendwas todesignadegree in indigenousknowl-edge systems and the establishment of pilotcentre at the University of Zululand for thepurposesof researching, recording, codifyingand spreading the indigenous knowledge. Asimilar initiative could prove very beneficialfor Pakistan’s economy as most of the busi-ness enterprises in Pakistan are micro, smallandmediumenterpriseswithasubstantialin-digenousknowledgecomponent in theirpro-ductiontechniques.Researchandcodificationofindigenousknowledgemayhelpintroducestandardsinthissector.Thefollowingwouldhelpachievetherequiredpolicyobjectives:

PolicyAction:

A39. EstablishmentofabodyunderMoSTforthe codification of indigenous knowl-



Many developing countries such asMalaysia,Argentina and India have reaped good ben-efits from this approachbyestablishing fundsto finance such activities. The Government ofPakistanmayalsoconsiderestablishinganIn-novation Fund, which would finance innova-tivecapabilitiesofindividuals,groups,organi-zationsandfirms in theprivateaswellas thepublicsector.Thesizeofthegrantwouldbeac-cordingtothecategoriesdefinedwhilesettinguptheFundandtheGovernmentwouldhaveashare(say20%)intheincomegeneratedfromanyproductorprocessdevelopedunderagrantfromtheFund.Necessaryarrangementswillbemadetoimplementthefollowingpolicyactions:

PolicyAction:

A41. Establishment of Innovation Fund tosponsor projects based on innovativeapproachestoenhanceproductivity.

5.7 VentureCapitalandEquityFund

77. Venturecapitalplaysacriticalroleinthecreation and development of small and me-diumenterprises,especiallyfornewproductsandtechnologies.Besidesprovidingtherequi-sitecapital,venturecapitalistscanhelpgroomsmallandmedium-sizestart-upsintomultina-tional concerns. Therefore, appropriate fiscalincentives should be given to attract venturecapital for creating new businesses and im-provetheirsustainability.Public-privatepart-nership canbe enhanced throughprivate eq-uity funds.Public sector organizationsunderthe oversight of theMinistry could be givensufficientautonomytoenter intofinancialar-rangementcontracts.

PolicyActions:

A42. Coordinationwiththefinancialinstitu-tions of the country to install VentureCapital schemes with public-privatepartnership.

A43. Devisingrulesconcerningtheavailabil-ityofprivateequityfundstopublicsec-tororganizations.

edgeanditseffectiveuseinproductionsector.

5.5 ManagementofIntellectualProp-ertyRightsRegime

74. AsfarasScienceandTechnologyiscon-cerned,theglobalsystemofIntellectualProp-ertyRights(IPR)isdesignedtoprotectthesci-entific discoveries, technological innovations,andtraditionalknowledge.ItensuresfinancialbenefitsforindividualinventorsandR&Dor-ganizations leading tomotivation for creativ-ity and increased interest for commercializa-tion, thereby benefitting the society throughenhancedindustrialproductivity.

75. The IPR regime in Pakistan has beenstrengthened after signing the agreement onTrade-RelatedAspectsofIntellectualPropertyRights (TRIPs) under WTO. The IntellectualPropertyOrganization (IPO) of Pakistanwasestablished in2005and its legalpositionwasdefinedthroughanOrdinanceoftheGovern-ment of Pakistan in 2007, as an autonomousorganization under administrative control ofCabinet Division, responsible for implement-ing relevant legislations inPakistan. Thedis-semination of information about patents andcopyrightsandprovisionof legalandadmin-istrativehelptoinventorsisawell-knownpre-requisite for global competitiveness. Recog-nizing the important role that IPO (Pakistan)canplayinthisregard,itisenvisagedtokeepcloseliaisonwiththisorganizationinordertoachievetheoverallobjectiveofST&IPolicy.

PolicyAction:

A40. CreatingthepositionofaLiaisonOffic-er intheMinistryofScienceandTech-nologytocoordinatetheIPRrelatedac-tivitiesacrossallR&DorganizationsincloseassociationwithIPO,Pakistan.

5.6 InnovationFund

76. Encouraging the inherent innovative ca-pabilitiesofthepeopleisalowcostandeffec-tivewayofdevelopingindigenoustechnology.

Introduction



Technology Transfer and the Creation of Absorptive Capacity

6. TechnologyTransferandtheCreationofAbsorptiveCapacity

78. In the context of a developing countrysuch as Pakistan, technology transfer takesplace at two broad levels; international andnational.Internationaltechnologytransferen-tailstheacquisitionandtransferoftechnologyfromamorescientificallyandtechnologicallyadvanced country to a developing country.International technology transfer takes placethroughdifferentchannels.Capitalgoodsim-portsandtechnologicalinputsservetoenhancetheproductivitywhentheyareusedinthepro-duction process. Another channel is ForeignDirect Investment (FDI) as multinational en-terprisestransfertechnologicalinformationtotheir local subsidiaries. The third channel bywhichtransferoftechnologytakesplaceisdi-recttradeinknowledgelicensing.

79. National technology transfer entails thefurtherdiffusionoftechnologyfromtheearlyleadingadopterstothewholesectorofproduc-tionandtheidentificationandexploitationofpromising indigenous research with a com-mercialpotential.Seen fromthese two levels,technologytransferencompassesnotonlytheprocessofinnovationbutalsothediffusionofinnovationrepresentedastechnology.

6.1 AbsorptiveCapacityforTechnologyTransfer

80. Inorderforbothtypesoftransferoftech-nology to takeplace successfully inPakistan,there is a need to create absorptive capac-ity at the individual, firm and national lev-els.Thereisaneedtodevelopthecapacityofpeople, businesses and institutions to assimi-lateprocess and createnew information.Theprocessofacquiring,imitating,absorbinganddiffusing technology is known asAbsorptiveCapacity.Enterprises inPakistan canonlybemadeinnovative if fundingismadeavailabletobuildingtheabsorptivecapacityofbusinessenterprisesoperatinginthepublicandprivatesectors. Absorptive capacity is based on theaccumulationofcontextualknowledgeand ispathdependent.Anorganization’sandfirm’s

absorptivecapacitydependsonhowwellitisexposedtousinginternalandexternalknowl-edge,itslearningcultureandcapabilitiesandits organizational ability to exploit it withinitssubunits.Further,thereisaneedtoensurethatmaximumadvantageissecuredfromtheabove three typesof international technologytransferbyincorporatingthetransferandde-velopmentofhumanand technological capa-bilities in technology transfer agreements. Itshouldalsobenoted that technology transfernegotiationskillsbeimpartedtopersonnelandinstitutions inpublicandprivatesectorswhoare involvedintheprocessofnegotiatingthetransferoftechnology.Moreover,itshouldberemembered that technology transfer shouldnotbelimitedtothetransferofphysicalstockof aparticulartechnologybuteffortsshouldbemadetoacquire thesetofdisembodiedskillsand capabilities associated with a particulartechnologywhichprovevitalintheprocessoffurtherdevelopmentof technology in thedo-mesticsetting.

6.2 AbsorptiveCapacityoftheFirms

81. Thedomesticfirmsshouldbeencouragedto become integrated into Global ProductionNetworks(GPN)ofthetransnationalcorpora-tions(TNCs).SpecialtaxincentivesshouldbereservedforthosefirmswhichbecomepartoftheseGPNs.Theseincentivesshouldnotbecutand dried but need to changewith the levelof experience accumulated by firms as theyprogress from lower end of the value chaintothehigherend.Theseincentivesshouldbegeared towards reducing the costs of doingbusiness.

82. Moreover, local firms in chosen indus-tries likesoftwareproducts,automotivepartsetc.shouldbecomeOriginalEquipmentManu-facturers(OEMs)ofthebigtransnationalcor-porations to achieve economies of scale andfacilitatethetransferofknowledgeandinfor-mation from the flagship corporation of theGPNs.Inter-firmcollaborationshouldthenbeencouragedbetweenlocalfirmswhichoperateasapartofGPNsandthosefirmswhichareyet

Technology Transfer and the Creation of Absorptive Capacity


tobecomeintegratedintoGPNstopromotetheflowofknowledge,skillsandtechnologyfromthe higher to the lower end of the industrialspectrum.

6.3 University-FirmCollaborationandScientificMobilityforTechnologyTransfer

83. Universitiesshouldbeencouragedtocol-laborate with those industries in which thenumberoffirmsparticipating in theGPNsofmultinational enterprises is the highest. Thiscollaborationcanbecomeaveryvitalchannelofinternationaltransferoftechnologythroughthesenetworks.TheattractionofhighlyskilledDiaspora happens to be a crucial source oftechnology-related skills for institutional de-velopment,businessesandcapitalinflow.ThismobilityshouldbepromotedsothattheflowofhighlyskilledPakistanisabroadisreversed.This mechanism contributed to the develop-ment of computer industry and software in-dustry inTaiwanand India respectively.Thehighly skilled Pakistanis should be attracted

back to the country and then placed in keypublic sector research organizations collabo-ratingwithfirmswhichhavebecomeapartoftheGPNs.

84. Thefollowingactionswillbetakentoim-prove technology transfer mechanism in thecountry:

PolicyActions:

A44. Provisionoffundingfor increasingab-sorptivecapacityofpublicandprivateproductionsector.

A45. Taxincentivesforfirmsthatareabletointegrate into Global Production Net-works.

A46. Directives fornegotiating internationaltradeagreements toensure technologytransfer.

A47. Offeringofincentivestoachievereversebraindrain.



7. InternationalCooperation

7.1 BilateralCooperation

85. TheMinistryofScienceandTechnologyhas signed agreements on S&T cooperationwithmore than 30 countries. However, withthe exception of a few notable examples likeChina and USA,most of the agreements aredormantwhilethereissporadicactivityinthecaseofothercountriessuchasTurkey,Argen-tina etc. Intensive efforts are therefore neces-sary tohavea livelyand fruitfulbilateral co-operationwithothercountriesonthebasisofmutual benefit. The guidingprinciple shouldbetostrengthentheS&Tsystemof thecoun-try and improve its capacity to contribute tothesocio-economicdevelopmentof thecoun-try.Besides,thecooperationwithindustriallyadvancedcountries,wherethemainobjectivewould be to build/improve technological ca-pability, increased attentionneeds to bepaidtoS&Tcooperationwithcountries thatareatasimilarstageorareatalowerstageofdevel-opmentasPakistan;withcountriesata simi-lar levelofdevelopment theobjective shouldbesharingofexperienceforlearningfromtheexperiences of other countries and gain fromthe areas of their strength on amutual basiswhilewithcountriesatalowerleveloftechno-logicaldevelopment,S&Tcooperationwillbebasedontheexpectationthatbyhelpingthesecountriesinthetechnicalfieldsbenefitsmightaccrueinotherfields,suchastrade.EmphasisisneededontheactivecollaborationrelatedtoS&Twiththeneighboringcountries,whereas,there is a need of encouraging the country’sR&D organizations, universities, scientists /engineers / technicians to establish coopera-tivelinkswiththeircounterpartsintheforeigncountries.

86. Itisalsoimportantthatthetermsofagree-mentbetweenPakistanandapartnercountrygivesufficientlibertytorelevantorganizationsinbothcountries forproposing jointprojects.Direct interaction between the Principal In-vestigators in two organizations is necessarytochalkoutaneffectiveresearchprogramme

based on the available expertise and desiredoutcomeoftheproject.TheMinistrymaydes-ignatea‘monitoringteam’,forperiodicreviewofthestatusofeachMoUandreporttotheSec-retaryinordertoovercomeanyimpediments.The teammay also be entrusted to publicizebilateralagreementstoawidegroupoforgani-zationsandinstitutionsaswellasuniversities,toseekmostappropriateresearchpartners.

7.2 MultilateralCooperation

87. BesidesbeingapartoftheUNsystem,Pa-kistanisamemberofvariousinternationalandregional agencies such asECO, SAARC,D-8,COMSATS,OICetc.thathavemultilateralco-operationactivities inscienceand technologyoriented towards socio-economic develop-ment.Pakistanshouldcontinue toparticipatein these multilateral programmes; in fact itshould take the lead role wherever possible.Similarly,Pakistanshouldparticipateactivelyin ‘big science’multilateral projects launchedjointlyby the technicallyadvancedcountries.Participation in the Large Hadron Colliderprogramme of CERN,where contribution byPakistan in the construction of the CMS de-tector components has enabled Pakistani sci-entists to carryout researchworkat thenewfacility.Similarparticipation inother interna-tionalprojectsof thisnaturewill increase theprestigeofPakistaniscientistsaswellasthatofthecountryintheinternationalscientificcom-munity.

88. Pakistanhas investedhumanandfinan-cialresourcesinestablishingCOMSATSwhichis an Inter-governmentalOrganization (IGO),withamandatetopromoteSouth-Southcoop-erationinScienceandTechnology.Thisuniqueopportunity of leadership role for Pakistanneedstobecapitalizedthroughastrongback-ing of Ministry of Science and Technology,Ministry of Finance andMinistry of ForeignAffairs. The COMSATS platform is a potentsourceofcreatingcollaborativescientificven-tureswithothermembersoftheorganizationspreadover3continents.

89. The importanceof internationalS&Tco-



operation asdiscussedabovenecessitates thefollowingactions:

PolicyActions:

A48. Designationof a ‘monitoring team’ forperiodically reviewing progress on bi-lateralMoUsanddisseminationof rel-evant information to research institu-tionsandministries.

A49. Ensuringstrongparticipation inmulti-lateralscientificfora.

A50. Capitalizing the scientific leadershiproleprovidedbyPakistanbasedIGOs.


Thrust Areas

8. ThrustAreas

8.1 Metrology,Standards,TestingandQuality(MSTQ)

90. Recognizing the need of a viableMSTQsystemtomeettherequirementsofglobaliza-tionoftradeaswellasensuringthequalityofgoodsinthelocalmarket,PakistanhassetupanascentMSTQ systemwith three organiza-tions,namelyPakistanStandardsandQualityControlAuthority(PSQCA),NationalPhysicaland Standards Laboratory (NPSL) and Paki-stan National Accreditation Council (PNAC)as its components. The PNAC has achievedMutualRecognitionArrangement(MRA)withInternational LaboratoryAccreditationCoop-eration(ILAC)andAsiaPacificLaboratoryAc-creditationCooperation(APLAC).

91. AcomprehensivedocumentpreparedbyPNAC entitled, ‘National Quality Policy andAction Plan – 2004’, encompasses all qualityrelatedissues,suchas;creationofqualityenvi-ronment, infrastructure development, qualitycontrolandqualityassurance,technologyup-gradation,consumerrights,awarenessraisingand human resource development. With anover-allbudgetlayoutofRs.10Billionandwell-definedtime-basedtargets,theenvisagedplanshouldhavetransformedthequalityenviron-mentinthecountry.However,theimplemen-tationcellproposedundertheActionPlanhaspartiallyachievedtheobjectivesofthepolicy.WiththeterminationoftheprojectinDecem-ber2010, the implementationcellhasbecomeredundant. There is considerablymoreworkthatneedstobedoneunderthisprogramme,whichcanbeeitherundertakenasuncomplet-edtargetsoftheActionPlan–2004orthroughtheapprovalofaRevisedActionPlanfor2011-2015.

92. The creation of PSQCA in 1996 and theenactmentofPSQCAactin2000,wasbasedontherealizationthatthestandardization(devel-opment of standards and conformity assess-ment)playsakeyroleintheindustrialprogressandprosperityofacountry.Theparticipationof both public and private sectors in stand-

ardizationactivities isessential forenhancingPakistan’s competitiveness in internationaltrade. Whereas, it is necessary to strengthenthe national standardization infrastructure, aconcertedefforttocreateawarenessinR&Dor-ganizations/universities/generalpublicabouttheroleofstandardizationineconomicgrowthwouldberequired.

93. Systemneedstoberevampedtoremoveremaining contradictions and weaknessesmakingitmoreeffective.Thestepsenvisagedforthispurposeare:

PolicyActions:

A51. SettingupNPSLastheNationalMetrol-ogy Organization as a separate entity,independentofPCSIR(subjecttotheen-actmentofasinglecadreforemployeesofscientificorganizationsunderMoST).

A52. Strengthening PNAC and PSQCA interms ofmanpower and infrastructurein order to enhance their roles of ac-creditationandstandardization,respec-tively.

A53. Restructuring PSQCA and redefiningits functions to remove jurisdictionaloverlap with the functions of NPSLandPNACthroughamendmentsinthePSQCAAct.

A54. Increasing the number of mandatorystandardsmanifoldfromitscurrentfig-ureof 85.These standards shouldalsobeenforcedonimportedgoodstopre-vent the localmarketbeingfloodedbysub-standardgoodsofforeignorigin.

A55. Harmonizing federal and provinciallawstoensurethatthesamestandardsare uniformly applicable throughoutthecountry.

A56. Involving the provincial setups in theenforcementofPakistanStandardsandstrengtheningthemadequatelyforthispurpose.

A57. Increasing the number of ISO/IEC

Thrust Areas


17025 accredited laboratories and cer-tification/inspection bodies in varioussectors in the country to facilitate theavailability of internationally accept-ableaccreditationtotheexporters,andlaunchingofnewaccreditationschemeson ISO/IEC 17024, ISO/IEC 17043,Product Certificate ISO/IEC Guide 65andPS4996:2010forHalalCertificate.

8.2 Environment

94. Applicationofscienceandtechnology isessentialforaddressingtheprevalentproblemsofenvironmentaldegradation.Atpresent,weareinthehabitoflookingtowardsthetechno-logicallyadvancednations for thesolution toour environmental problems. However, ap-propriate application of simple technologies,eitherdevelopedindigenouslyoradapted,cansolvethemajorityoftheseproblems.Forexam-ple,thewaterfiltrationplantdesignedandde-velopedbyPCRWRfortheremovalofarsenicfromwater is a simplebut effective solution.These plants, which can be easily manufac-tured locally,canbeusedforremovingothertypesofwatercontaminationusingtheappro-priatemedium.Standardwaterfiltrationunitsfor community and individual families haveto be developed and commercialized. Simi-larly,thehospitalwasteincinerator,developedby PCSIR and successfully commercializedthrough a private sector partner, is anotherexample of local technology being used forsolving local problems. The organizations oftheMinistryofScienceandTechnologyareinapositiontodeveloptechnologiesforsolvingotherenvironmentalproblems.TheMinistryofClimateChangeandtheMinistryofScience&Technologyshouldteamuptostudyandsolvethe various environmental problems. Thisshould be combined with stricter and moreeffectiveenforcementofthenationalenviron-mental laws, so that theenvironmentalprob-lemscanbeeffectivelydealtwith.SupportforEnvironmentrelatedprojectsatnationallevelmaybeavailablethroughvariousinternationalagencies suchasGlobalEnvironmentFacility(GEF).Otheropportunitiesofinternationalco-

operationandfundingfortransitiontoenergyefficient technologies exist under Bali ActionPlanforTechnologyDevelopment,theCancunTechnology Mechanism, Clean DevelopmentMechanism,AdaptationFundetc.

95. TheMinistryofScienceandTechnologywill join handswith theMinistry of ClimateChangetoundertakeactionslistedbelow:

PolicyActions:

A58. Development of cost effective sewagetreatmentplants.

A59. Development of Industry-specific bio-technological waste-water treatmentprocesses.

A60. Powergeneration through incinerationofsolidwaste.

A61. Developmentofcatalyticconvertersforretrofittingvehicles forminimizing theemissionproblems.

A62. Assistance inmeeting theobjectivesofEnvironmentPolicy–2005,whichinteralia,aimto:

i. Phase out sulfur from diesel and fur-naceoil.

ii. Establish cleaner production centersand promote cleaner production tech-niquesandpractices.

iii.Providealternatesourcesofenergy,likepipednaturalgas,LiquefiedPetroleumGas (LPG), solar energy and micro-hydelpowerstations,tothelocalinhab-itantstoreducethepressureonnaturalforest,andtosubstitutefirewoodintheuplandecosystems.

iv. Promotetheuseofozonefriendlytech-nologies;andphaseouttheuseofozonedepleting substances in line with theprovisionsoftheMontrealProtocol.

v. Promoterecyclingofagriculturalprod-ucts associated with livestock produc-tion and use of livestock sector as an


Thrust Areas

outlet for recycling of appropriate ur-banwaste.

vi. Introduceadequateanimalwasteman-agementsysteminperi-urbandairycol-onies.

8.3 HealthandPharmaceuticals

96. Thepharmaceutical industry inPakistancomprises national and multinational com-panies.Presently,thereareabout400[]phar-maceutical manufacturing companies includ-ing 25[6] multinationals, which meet around70%[4] of the country’s requirement. The in-vestmentintheindustryisaroundRs.3billionannually.Thevalueofpharmaceuticalsoldin2007wasUS$1.4billion.

97. Whereas,Pakistanhasattainedahighde-greeofself-sufficiencyintheformulationandpackaging of finished pharmaceutical prod-ucts,themanufacturingofbasicingredientsisstilllimitedandmostoftheactiveingredientsareimported.Researchinthedevelopmentofdrugsisatanascentstage.ThePanjwaniCen-treforDrugDevelopmentestablishedrecentlyatHEJ Research Institute of Chemistry (Uni-versityofKarachi)isthefirstinstitutiondedi-catedforresearchinthisfield.

98. R&D in the sector of active ingredients(generic formula), quality herbal medicines,alternate medicines, biopharmaceuticals, bio-logicalsandvaccinesforbothhumansaswellas animals is vital and needs to be strength-ened.ForthispurposeinternationalassistanceinthecapacitybuildingofR&Dorganizationsinthissectorneedstobeactivelypursued.Up-grading the existing quality testing laborato-riesandsettingupnewonesinthevicinityofmanufacturingclusterswouldcaterforqualityassurance of thedrugs. Procedures for betterlinkages/collaborationbetweenR&Dinstitu-tionsand the industry,particularly involvingmultinationals, need to be streamlined. Simi-larly,coordinationbetweenMinistryofScienceandTechnologyandthefederalandprovincialhealth organizations / departments, in otherareasrequiringR&Dforeffectivehealthdeliv-

erysystemandself-relianceinallMedicareas-pectsisenvisagedunderSTIPolicy.

99. Anencouragingdevelopmentinthiscon-nectionisthatPCSIRhassignedanMoUwithChineseAcademyofSciencestohelpMedici-nalBotanicCentre,PCSIRPeshawartoacquirethe status of a WHO recognized Centre forHerbalMedicine.However,thetechnicaltrain-ing/capacitybuildingandexchangeofexpertvisitscomponentissuspendedduetofinancialconstraint/supportbyFederalGovernment.Inviewofthelowercosts,proveneffectivenessand social acceptability of local herbalmedi-cines, thisoptionforpublichealth-careneedsstrongstatepatronage.

100. Researchintheproductionofvaccinesisofcriticalimportance.AstheEPIvaccinesarebeingprovidedfreeofcostbyUNICEFthroughagrantfromGAVI,researchinthisfieldmaynotappear tobeapriorityarea.However, tomeetthegrowingrequirementofvaccinesforadultsandtoensurevaccinesecurityincaseofdenialduetoachangeinthegeopoliticalsce-nario,Pakistanshouldbeinapositiontopro-duceitsownvaccines.BesidestheupgradationofthevaccineproductionfacilityattheNation-al InstituteofHealth tomeet theWHOGMPstandards,settingupofotherGMP-compliantmanufacturingfacilitiesinthepublicaswellastheprivate sector shouldbe encouraged.Theproduction of animal and poultry vaccinesinthepublicsector,e.g.at theVeterinaryRe-searchInstitute,LahoreandPoultryResearchCentreKarachineedstobeincreasedmanifoldformeetingthetotalrequirementsofthecoun-try.

101. Thestepstobetakenforimprovingindig-enous capacity in health and pharmaceuticalsectorarelistedbelow:

PolicyActions:

A63. DevelopmentofR&Dcapacityforpro-ducingactivedrugcomponentsandup-gradationofdrugqualitytestinglabora-tories.

Thrust Areas


A64. NecessarystepsforPCSIR,Peshawartobe WHO recognized Herbal MedicineCentre.

A65. Establishmentofnewfacilities forvac-cinesproductionandmanufacturingofmedicalinstrumentationanddiagnosticequipmentforlocalneedsaswellasex-portpurposes.

8.4 Energy

102. In order to overcome the current ener-gycrisisand toensureenergysecurityof thecountryonasustainablebasis,theemergencymeasures being undertaken at present needtobesupplementedbyvigorousR&Defforts,especiallyforreducingthedependenceonim-ported oil and increasing the share of othersourcessuchasnuclear,renewableandcoalintheenergymixofthecountry.Thevastdepos-itsoflignitecoal(175Bt)intheTharparkerDis-trictofSindhprovincespreadoveranareaofmorethan9000squarekilometersarethemostsuitableforCoalGasification.Withacombinedsystemofgasandsteamturbines,theefficiencyofelectricityproductionfromcoalgascanbeashighas60%.Apartfromtheproductionofcheapelectricity(<Rs.6perunitascomparedRs.9-12perunitwithfurnaceoilplant),thereareanumberofby-productsofhigheconomicvaluethatcanbeextractedbychemical-reproc-essingofthesyntheticgas,suchasfertilizers,plastics,dieseletc.Whileeffortsareunderwaytoutilizethisenormousenergysource,allS&Torganizations with relevant experience haveanobligation toundertakeR&Dfor themosteffective, environment friendly and economi-cal utilization of Thar coal. The presence ofbrackishundergroundwatercoveringcoalde-positsisachallengeaswellasanopportunity.Ifcheapenergyisavailableon-site, thewatertreatmentplantscangenerateenoughwatertoconvertthedesertintoarableland.

103. ThePolicyforDevelopmentofRenewableEnergyforPowerGeneration(2006)formulat-edbyAlternateEnergyDevelopmentBoardofPakistanenvisagesincreaseinthedeploymentofrenewableenergytechnologies(RETs)inPa-

kistanso thatRE(solar,wind,biomass, tidal,geothermaletc.)providesaminimumof9,700MWby2030andhelpsensureuniversalaccesstoelectricityinallregionsofthecountry.Ac-cording to thePolicydocument thisobjectivewouldbeachievedthroughanumberofmeas-uresincludingthefacilitationoftheestablish-ment of domestic RETs manufacturing base.Facilities andmanpower available in PCRETcanbeutilizedtoachievethestatedtarget.

104. Othersourcesofenergythatneedfurtherefforts to enhance their share of energy-mixarehydelandNuclearpower.TheMinistryofWaterandPowerandPakistanAtomicEnergyCommission,respectively,aretheagenciesre-sponsible fordevelopment in this sector.Thetotal hydropower potential in the country isclose to 57,000MWwhereas, the current in-stalledcapacityisonly6464MW.Apartfromtheon-goingprojectsof1505MW[],otherfea-sibleprojectscangenerateupto24000MW.ThePAECenvisagestoproduce8800MWbyyear2030throughnuclearpowerreactors.Howev-er,thecoordinationoftheoverallenergypro-ductioneffortsinthecountryandcreatingsyn-ergiesamongvariousR&Dforaarenecessaryforachievingself-sufficiencyinthissector.

105. Considering the variety of stake-holdersandbroadspectrumof technologies involvedinenergyproduction,theS&Tpolicyobjectivewould be achieved through following meas-ures:

PolicyActions:

A66. Harmonizingtheeffortsmadeintheen-ergy sector bydifferentMinistries, de-partmentsandresearchcentresbycre-atingan‘EnergyCouncil’withheadsofrelevantorganizations.TheCouncilwillbeentrustedtoadviseonpriorityareasforR&Dandmanagementofresourcesandtofillthegaps.

A67. Acquisition of technology for buildingnuclear power reactors through R&Daswellastransferoftechnologyagree-ments.


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A68. ConstitutingR&Dtask force fordevel-oping processes to convert Coal andCoal gas for environment-friendly en-ergy productions and their conversiontoeconomicallyusefulproducts.

A69. Developmentofpilotprojectsandtheirlarge-scale dissemination based on ex-isting technologies such as solarwaterheaters,biogasplants,photovoltaicetc.

A70. Announcement of incentives (e.g. taxholiday) to the private sector for themanufacturing of renewable energyproducts, components and systems,such as solar thermal power systemcomponents, wind energy technologycomponents,biogasplantsetc.

A71. Creationofa‘RenewableEnergyFund’for research into the development ofnewREtechnologiessuchashydrogenfuelcell,Fresnelmirrorsandlow-cost/high-efficiencyphotovoltaicpanels.

A72 Ensureutilizationofalternativeenergysourcesandgetadequateallocationforactualization of provincial projects/plans.

8.5 BiotechnologyandGeneticEngi-neering

106. As a cross cutting field, biotechnologyhas applications in agriculture,medicine, en-ergy, environment and industry. In Pakistanthereare26institutionsengagedineducationandresearchinbiotechnologyandgeneticen-gineering. However, limited resources, inad-equate stock of trained manpower and lackofpropercoordinationamongtheinstitutionsaresomeofthereasonswhythissectorhasnotbeendevelopedtoitsfullpotential.

107. A National Commission on Biotechnol-ogywasestablishedin2001tostreamlineandpromoteresearchinthisvitalsectorandduringthelastfewyearsoverRs.onebillionhavebeeninvestedonR&Dinthispriorityareathroughvariousprojects approved by theMinistry ofScienceandTechnologyandtheHigherEdu-

cationCommission(HEC).AvarietyofBtCot-tondevelopedby theCentreofExcellence inMolecularBiology(CEMB)hasbeenapprovedby the Punjab SeedCouncil and is ready forplantationinthefield.

108. TopromotetheR&Daswellascommer-cial aspects of biotechnology in the country,increasedgovernmentsupport isrequiredforpromulgationofbiotechnologylegislation,de-fining standards in accordance with interna-tionalpracticesandinestablishingtechnologyincubatorsandbiotechparksinpublicsectorinmajorcitiesofPakistan.Internationalcoopera-tionforcapacitybuildinginthisareathroughjointresearchprojectsneedstobeactivelypur-sued.

109. TheMinistryofScienceandTechnologymayassistintheadoptionandimplementationof“NationalBiotechnologyandGeneticEngi-neeringPolicyandActionPlan”,proposedbythedefunctNationalCommissiononBiotech-nology,whichhasnotbeenapprovedsofar.

110. Considering that biotechnology has thegreatestpotentialoftransformingthewaythehumancommunitieswillleadtheirlivesinfu-ture,itisconsiderednecessarytoadoptfollow-ingsteps:

PolicyActions:

A73. Re-establishmentof‘NationalCommis-siononBiotechnology’andcharging itwith the task of coordinating nation-wideresearchprogrammesindifferentareas where biotechnology can be ap-plied.

A74. Reviewing the draft of ‘National Bio-technology and Genetic EngineeringPolicyandActionPlan’andimplement-ing itwith the support of relevant or-ganizations.

A75. Enacting biotechnology related legisla-tions.

A76. Establishmentofbiotechnologyincuba-tioncenters.

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8.6 AgricultureandLivestock

111. Despite contributing 20-25%of theGDPandbeingthemainstayofoureconomy,ithasnotbeenpossibleforonereasonortheother,toexploitthelivestockandagriculturalsectortoitsfullpotential.Significantlyloweraverageyieldsofcrops,persistentdecreaseinthequan-tityaswellasthequalityofwateravailableforirrigation,highcostoffertilizers,limitedavail-ability of quality certified seeds, weak pestmanagementandlargepostharvestlossesareonlysomeofthefactorslimitingthegrowthofthiscriticalsector.Todayabout30-35million[]people inruralareasareengaged inraisinglivestockandabouta thirdof their income isgeneratedfromsellinglivestockproducts.StillPakistan is spending a significant amount offoreignexchangeontheimportoffoodgrains,meat and dairy products. Also, WTO agree-ments(especially,AgreementonAgricultural,Trade-RelatedAspectsofIntellectualPropertyRights (TRIPs), and Sanitary and Phyto-sani-taryMeasures)poseseriouschallengestothissector. Pakistan has great potential to exportHalal Food all over theworld provided thatthereisastrongcertificationandqualitycon-trol systemwithin thecountry toaddress theissues related to Sanitary and Phytosanitary(SPS) and Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT)underWTOobligations.

112. The initiatives of PARC and provincialnetworks of R&D organizations in geneticmodificationleadingtohigheryieldsandpestresistanceinmajorcropsandimprovementoflivestock traits (disease/heat resistance, highmeat/milkyield),establishmentofseedtest-ingandproductionfacilitiesandR&Deffortstominimizepost-harvestlossesneedtobein-tensified.Specialmeasuresarerequiredtoad-dress the post harvesting losses of fruits andgrains,increasingthestoragecapacityandim-provingpacking& transportation facilities toenhancetheshelf-lifeandqualityoffood.Therecent concrete measures by the Ministry ofNationalFoodSecurityandResearch,throughfederalandprovincialR&Dorganizations,forthedevelopmentofthelivestocksector,likeca-

pacitybuildingofinstitutionsinvolvedinani-mal breeding, up-gradation of animal healthlaboratories and establishment of Livestockand Dairy Development Board with greaterparticipationofprivatesectorarestepsintherightdirection.

113. Toensurefoodsecurityforthecountryonasustainablebasis,someoftheresearchareasrequiringincreasedattentionaretheuseofge-neticengineeringforaquantumjumpincropyields,developmentofcropvarietiessuitableforaridandsemi-aridregions,developmentofquality,disease-freeseedsandidentificationofnewsourcesofresistanceagainstmajorpestsofvariouscrops.Theuseofremotesensingtech-nologyforcropsurveys,pestsurveillanceandmonitoringoftheirrigationsystemisrequiredtoobtainadvancewarningofany impendingcrisis.Developmentofon-sitefoodprocessingtechnologieswouldhelpinreducingposthar-vest losses.Researcheffortsarealso requiredinbreedingdiseaseresistantpoultrybirdsanddevelopmentofvaccinesforprotectionagainstdiseaseslikeavianfluetc.Tosustainourpoul-tryindustry,thefarmingneedstobedoneonmore scientific basis using modern produc-tion/protection technologies. Similar effortsare required in case of fisheries. Inland fishfarming including farming in brackishwateralsoneedstobedevelopedonaprioritybasis.

114. BettercoordinationbetweenFederalandProvincialagriculturalR&Destablishments isnecessary in order to avoid duplication andwastage of energy and resources. Modalitiesforamoreefficientandfruitfulinteractionbe-tweenendusersandR&Dinstitutionshavetobeworkedout.Recentclimaticchangesasare-sultofglobalwarmingarealreadyhavinganeffectonthecropcycles.Thisinterrelatedshift-ingofweatherpatternandcropcyclesneedscarefulconsiderationandanalysisfordealingwiththeprobleminatimelymanner.

115. The critical dependence of Pakistan’seconomyon agricultural sector necessitates apolicy geared towards self-sufficiency in alltypesof foodcommoditiesandedibleoils,aswellasenhancedexportsofPakistaniproduce.


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Some essential steps required in this respectare:

PolicyActions:

A77. Development of genetic modificationexpertiseforproducinghighyield/pestresistantcrops.

A78. Usingnewtechnologiessuchasremotesensing, laser land-leveling, bio-ferti-lizersandsolartube-wellsforenhance-mentofefficiencyinthesectoroffarmproduce.

A79. Producing, preserving and processingfruits andvegetables that satisfy food-chainrequirementsoftheinternationalmarket.

A80. Establishing facilities for producingquality controlledHalal food forMus-limconsumers indifferentpartsof theworld.

A81. Supporting schemes for modern tech-niques in poultry, livestock and fishfarming.

8.7 Water

116. Pakistanpossessesworld’slargestirriga-tionsystemcommonlycalledtheIndusBasinIrrigation system. Water Resources of Paki-stanconsistsmainlyofrainfall,rivers,glaciers,groundwateretc.Pakistan’sestimatedcurrentper capita water availability of around 1,066M3placesitinthe“highwaterstress”catego-ry.Duetoincreaseddemandofwaterforirri-gation,industryandpublicuse,thepercapitawater availability will be further reduced to858M3by2025.

117. Pakistanisfacingaseriouswaterproblemtodayandthegapbetweendemandandsup-plyseems tobewidening.Currently,over35percentofPakistan’spopulationdoesnothaveaccess to safe drinkingwater. The quality ofdrinkingwater supply ispoor,withbacterialcontamination,arsenic,fluorideandnitratebe-ingthefactorsofmajorconcern.Thevastma-

jority of the populationdoes not have accesstosafedrinkingwater,duetowhichincidenceofwater-bornediseases is increasing rapidly.High population growth rate, urbanization,industrializationandnewenvironmentalcon-straints are aggravating the problem. It hasbeenestimated thatwater, sanitationandhy-gienerelateddiseasescostPakistan’seconomyaboutRs.112billionperyear,intermsofhealthcostsandlostearning.

118. Appropriatelegislationisrequiredtoen-sure compliancewith the Pakistan Standardsfordrinkingwaterbyindividualsandinstitu-tions. Serious research efforts todevelopandtestsimpletechnologiesforsustainableavaila-bilityofsafedrinkingwaterarerequiredonanurgentbasis.Theprojectforestablishingwatertreatmentplantsinallunioncouncilsisstillun-derimplementationandneedstobeexpeditedonafasttrackbasis.Developmentofinexpen-sivedesalinationtechniquesforconvertingthebrackishgroundwaterintosafedrinkingwaterneeds to be pursued urgetly. Already devel-oped inexpensive desalination technologiesforconvertingbrackishgroundwaterintosafedrinkingwaterneedtobepromotedandtrans-ferredtoendusers.

119. Thesustainabilityofagriculturedependsonthejudicioususeofwaterandmanagementofwaterresources.Seriousresearcheffortsarerequiredforthedevelopmentofwaterconser-vation technologies, taking the local climaticconditions, soil properties, social norms andeconomic situation into account. It is worthmentioningthatasubstantialamountofwater(31.48MAF)escapesintotheArabianSea.Cur-rentcanalwaterdistributioniswastefulas60-65%ofthewateravailableatthecanalheadislostduetoseepage,evaporation-transpiration,theft,pooroperationandmaintenanceetc,be-foreitreachesroot-zoneintheintendedfarm-ers’field,resultinginlowcrop-productivityperunitofwater. In this regard,NARC,PCRWRand other Provincial irrigation departmentshave developed the techniques like trickle,dripirrigationetc,bywhichwatercanbecon-served.Thesetechniquesneedtobepromoted

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forutilizationby farmers. InArid zones, ouragricultureistotallyreliantonrainwater.Thereisanurgentneedtodevelopandpromoterain-waterharvestingtechniques.Tominimizethewaterlossincanals,NESPAKhaveconcretedthe canals of Punjab.Otherprovinces shouldfollowsuit.Promulgationof the“WaterCon-servationAct”andrelevantstandardstofosterwater conservation has to be pursued vigor-ously. R&D organizations need to undertakeconcerted efforts for research in inter-relatedareasofwaterresourcemanagement;develop-mentandmanagementofgroundwater;assess-mentandmitigationofdesertification;impactofclimatechangeonwateravailability;salineagriculture and disposal and re-use of salinewater.Thereisalsoanurgentneedtodevelopamodusoperandi for transferring the resultsofR&Dtotheendusers.

120. TheNationalWater Policy has been ap-provedbytheCabinetinSeptember2009.Thepolicyisaimedatachieving,interalia,thetar-get“toprovidesafedrinkingwaterto93%ofthepopulationby2015therebyraisingthecur-rent coverage by almost 30% for the existingpopulation and ensuring that the additionalpopulationisalsoprovidedaccess”.TheMin-istryofScienceandTechnologyshouldassistall relevant agencies for the achievement ofthese goals. Pakistan Environmental Protec-tionCouncil (PEPC)headedbyPrimeMinis-terofPakistanhasrecentlyapprovedNationalDrinking Water Standards. EPAs have beenmandated for the enforcement of standards;however,EPAsdonothavecapacity/capabil-itytoaddresstheissueofdrinkingwatercon-taminationallover thecountry.Notonly thedrinking water but surface water i.e. rivers,damsandcanalsarealsobadlycontaminateddue to municipal, agricultural & industrialsolid/liquidwaste.Majorityofindustriesandmunicipalitiesdonothavetreatmentfacilities.Oneof the issues is localmanufacturing/ in-stallationof treatmentplantstocutdownthehigh price of imported plants. Cooperationamongdifferentdepartmentsatnational,pro-vincialanddistrictlevelisrequiredtoachievethedesiredgoals.

121. In lightof theexistingprecariousnatureofwaterresourcesandcriticaldependenceofthenationaleconomyonsustainableavailabil-ityofwaterfordomestic,agriculturalandcom-mercialuse,theactionstobeputinplaceare:

PolicyActions:

A82. Providinghelpandsupportfortheim-plementationof‘NationalWaterPolicy– 2009’ and ‘National DrinkingWaterStandards’.

A83. Completion of projects for establish-ingwatertreatmentplants inallunioncouncils.

84. Implementation of water conservationtechnologiesandassistanceintheprom-ulgationoftheWaterConservationAct.

A85. Developmentofinexpensivetechniquesforwaterdesalinationandpurificationfordomesticuse,andtreatmentofwastewater.

8.8 Minerals

122. Although,Pakistanisgenerallyregardedasbeing rich inmineral resources, thedevel-opmentoftheseresourceshasbeenlimitedtosome quarries producing industrial mineralsoflimestone,rocksalt,marble,gypsumandamodestamountofcoal forpowergeneration.Therehasbeenverylimitedexplorationusingmodern management, adequate capital andproper technical know how, with the resultthatmineralexploitationcontributeslessthan1%ofGDPatpresent.

123. In order to fully harness the availablepotential, the implementationof theNationalMinerals Policy that was formulated in 1995with the objective to facilitate private invest-mentinmineraldevelopment,needstobese-riouslypursued.There isaneed toworkoutwaysandmeans for the involvementofmul-tinationals and removal of all barriers in thisregard.Whileencouragingforeigncapitalandtechnology, it is also necessary to ensure thenationalinterestthroughwell-consideredcon-


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tract negotiations.The export ofunprocessedore is tobeavoidedatall costs, since theby-products, such as gold in Cu ore, and otherprecious rare-earths are lost without any ac-counting.

124. Long-term efforts are required formap-ping and interpreting the geology of the re-lated areas; setting standards for and under-takingcontractedaeromagnetic,geo-chemicalandairborneradiometricsurveys;conductingnationalmapping programmes of the earth’sgravitational and magnetic fields. Expertiseon the nature and origin of nationalmineraldeposits including the development of inno-vative explorationguidelines, techniquesandtechnologiesandprovidingexpertknowledgeand information on natural hazards such asearthquakes, volcanoes and magnetic stormsin related areas also needs to be developed.Serious R&D efforts are required to developcost efficient and clean coal technologies forharnessingthehugereservesofcoal(175BTinTharonly)foruseinthepowersector.

125. In supportof relevantnational andpro-vincialdepartments andagencies responsiblefor harnessing Pakistani minerals includingcoal,oreandgas,thefollowingactionswouldbecarriedout:

PolicyActions:

A86. Provisionofsupportfortheimplemen-tationofNationalMineralsPolicy1995.

A87. Undertaking R&D work for utilizingthefullpotentialofcoalreserves.

A88. Development of technologies forprocessing different indigenous orestoextractproductsofhighcommercialvalue.

8.9 OceanResources

126. Pakistan,witharelatively longcoastlineofabout1000km,hasanExclusiveEconomicZone(EEZ)of240,000sq.km.inwhichithasexclusive controlover all the livingandnon-living resources of the ocean. Another more

than50,000sq.km.ofseabed–withthenon-livingresourcesbeneathit–isexpectedtobe-comeavailablewiththesuccessfulprocessingof the case for the establishment of the outerlimits of the continental shelf under the UNConventionontheLawoftheSea(UNCLOS,1982). In order to utilize the resources of thesea in a sustainablemanner, it is essential tomap the available resources through oceano-graphic, bathymetric seafloor classification(habitatmapping)andhighresolutionseismicsurveys.Programmesforthemappingofbio-resourcesaswellasthegeo-resourcesneedtobeinitiatedassoonaspossibletotakestockoftheseresources.Forthesepurposestwoocea-nographic researchvessels–one forworkingin coastal areas and the other for surveys indeepwaters–arerequired.Pakistanalsoneedstodevelop capacity in theareasofminingoftheseabed,forutilizingtheminerals,e.g.man-ganesenodules,lyingontheseabed.TheAnt-arctic programme, which has been dormantfor some time also needs to be re-initiated.Capacitybuildingof theNational InstituteofOceanographyintheareasofmappingoftidalenergypotential,bathymetry,high resolutionmarineacoustics,integratedcoastalzoneman-agement, aquaculture, monitoring of marinepollutionetc.isnecessaryforittocarryoutitsmandateeffectivelyandefficiently.

127. Marine Scientific Research in the Arabi-anSeahas foundevidenceof thepresenceoflargequantityofgashydrates in theoffshoreareasofMakranCoast.Targetorientedexplo-ration activities are required tobe conductedtoquantifyandmaptheexpectedpotentialofthishugesourceofnaturalmethanegasaswellasOilandGasresourcesinmaritimeareasofPakistanwithclosecooperationandsupportofPrivateSectorincludingOil&GasIndustry.Ingeneral,theexplorationandexploitationofPa-kistanmaritimeareashastobepursuedmorevigorouslytomeetthefuturechallengesofen-ergydemand.

128. Pakistan’s longcoastline is thesourceofincome to thousands of fishermen. Pakistanhas a well established fisheries industry that

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issufferingdueto lackoffinancialresources.Thissituationneedstoremediedthroughcoor-dinatedefforts.

129. In order to fullyutilize ocean resources,someoftherequiredactionsare:

PolicyActions:

A89. Mapping of oceanic resources in themaritime Exclusive Economic Zone aswell asunder seabed for assessing thepotentialoftheirutilization.

A90. Exploitation of tidal energy potentialandsea-basedmineralssuchasmanga-nesenodulesandgashydrates.

A91. Developmentof sea-basedaquacultureandfisheryindustry.

8.10 Electronics

130. As the world’s largest industrial sectorandmost lucrative consumermarketwithanannualturnoverofUS$1.5trillion(inyear2004)[],electronicsneedsspecialattention.Pakistanhasnotbeenabletoestablishaviableindustrialbaseinthissector,astheshareofelectronicsinthecountry’smanufacturingsectorisonly3%.Efforts are therefore needed, for developingthis sector formeeting the country’s require-mentinindustrial,defenceandconsumerelec-tronics.Developmentofautomationcontrollersfortheautomationofthelocalindustry,CNCcontrollersandPC-basedcontrollers forCNCmachinesetc.wouldhelpboostindustrialpro-ductionaswellasimprovingthequalityoftheproducts.SettingupofElectronicsFacilitationCentres with modern electronics design andqualityassurancelaboratories,expertservicesfordesignandprototypingaswellashigh-techSMTmachinesforassemblyofprintedcircuitboards(PCBs)wouldfacilitatetheindustryinthe production of internationally competitiveproducts in terms of price and quality. Suchfacilitationcentresshouldbesetupinthefed-eralandtheprovincialcapitalstosupportthelocalelectronicsindustrythrough‘economyofscale’,supplyofparts,sub-assembliesandkits

atcompetitivepricescomparedtothosebeingimported.TheNationalInstituteofElectronics(NIE)couldbedevelopedintotheElectronicsFacilitationCentreatIslamabad.

131. Therequisiteactionsbasedonthepolicyofutilizingfullpotentialofmodernelectronicsindustryareasfollows:

PolicyActions:

A92. Launching of specific programmes fortheautomationoflocalindustry.

A93. Setting-upElectronicsFacilitationCen-tres forproviding advice, training andservices to supportproductionof elec-tronics goods and electronics-basedequipment.

8.11 InformationandCommunicationTechnologies(ICTs)

132. ICTshaveemergedasthemajorfactorofgrowth and development in modern world.TheICTcapabilitiesofacountrycangreatlyaf-fectitscapacityofinnovationandglobalcom-petitivenessleadingtoimprovementofsocio-economicdevelopmentprospects.

133. InPakistan,ICTsectorhasseenapromi-nentgrowthduringthelasttwodecades.Paki-staniICTandInformationTechnologyEnabledService(ITES)companieshaveshowngrowthrateof30-40%.Someofthesecompanieshavebeen represented at various internationalevents.Pakistanhasjumped11places,from98to87,accordingtotherankingsoftheGlobalInformationTechnologyReport 2009-2010 re-leasedbytheWorldEconomicForum(WEF).

134. Similarly the tele-density has increasedfrom4.3%in2002-2003to65.4%in2010,with108.9million phones including; 102.7millioncellularsubscribersof5GSMOperators (Mo-bilink,Zong,Ufone,Warid,Telenor),3.4mil-lionfixedlines,2.7millionWirelessLocalLoopand 1.0 million broadband subscribers. Cur-rently,theITandTelecomSectorisoneofthemajor source of ForeignDirect Investment inPakistan.TheICTindustrysizeinthecountry


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isestimatedtobeUSD2.8billion[8]andtotalIT/ITESexportshavebeenvaluedatUSD1.4billion[].

135. The key institutions involved in promo-tionandfacilitationof ITandTelecomSectorinthecountry includedifferentorganizationsanduser-groups.However,onan institution-alized basis, the following organizations areresponsibleforICTdevelopment:

i. The Ministry of Information Technologyand Telecommunications (MoITT) is re-sponsible for developing policies for ITandtelecommunications.

ii. NationalTelecommunicationCorporation(NTC)catersforgovernmentcommunica-tionsandactsasanalternativesupportfortheoperatorsenteringthemarket.

iii. TheUniversalServiceFund(USF),Minis-try of Information Technology and Tele-communicationsisresponsiblefortelecomdevelopmentintheunder-developedare-asviasubsidiesfromacontributedFund.

iv. The Pakistan Software Export Board(PSEB)overseesITgrowthandexport.

v. National ICT R&D Fund, InformationTechnologyandTelecommunicationssup-portsresearchrelevanttoICTs.

136. Inaddition,thereareseveralactivetradebodies having strong interest in thedevelop-mentofICTs.Theseinclude:

i. Pakistan Software Houses Association(PASHA)

ii. Internet Service ProvidersAssociation ofPakistan(ISPAK)

iii. ComputerSocietyofPakistan(CSP)

iv. FederationofPakistanChambersofCom-merceandIndustry(FPCCI)

137. ItisevidentthatICTsareplayingaleadingrole inacceleratingeconomicgrowthandpro-motingsustainabledevelopment.Pakistanhasmadeasignificantleapandwillcontinuetodo

soifforward-lookinginitiativesaretakenwellintime.Someoftheproposedmeasuresare:

PolicyActions:

A94. Support for the implementation of theNationalITPolicyandActionPlan.

A95. Establishment of public ICT IndustrialParks.

(TherearenumberofexistingIT/ICTsparks but the proposed ICT industrialparkswillconsistofmanynationallevelsub-parksand technical supportbases,including; microelectronics industry,softwareindustryexportbase,softwareindustry base, semiconductor lighting(lightemittingdiode–LED)base,infor-mation security base, ICdesign indus-trybase,electronicinformationindustrybase, IC design park, multimedia in-dustrypark,multimediavalley,digitalmediaindustrypark,internationalout-sourcing park, opto-electronics indus-trial park, panel display industry base&supportsoftwareparks).

A96. Deploying ICT across sectors to im-provethesectoralgrowth,e.g.SMEstobeencouragedtouseICTsforimprove-mentoftheircompetitiveness.

A97. Supporting e-commerce and e-govern-anceapplications

(Manycountries inAsiaare takingad-vantage of e-commerce through open-ingofeconomies,whichisessentialforpromotingcompetitionanddiffusionofinternettechnologies).

A98. Encouraging entrepreneurial activi-ties suchasoffshore low-costBusinessProcessingCentres.

A99. Promotingopensourcesoftware.

(Theestablishmentofacentralbodyisrecommendedtodevelopandmonitorastandard,freeopensourcesoftwarethatcanbe implemented inallpublicoffic-

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es and educational institutes.Thiswillhelp in saving handsome amount thatis being given against purchase of an-nuallicenses.Inthisregard,Indonesia’smodel can be adopted. Indonesia hasmore than 90% of Govt. offices on lo-callymaintainedopensourcesoftware).

A100. SharingofICTsresourcestomeetlargevolumecomputing

(There isaneed to introduceandsup-portsharedICTservices(likewebplat-forms against security threats, infor-mation portals, development of streetviews)andprovidelargevolumecom-puting services (by installing supercomputersforpublicusebylargeentre-preneurs/multinationals).Servicecanbe provided on rental basis to ensuresustainabilityoftheservice).

A101. OfferingICT-relatedfinancialincentives(tax holidays / introduction of specialtaxratesforsoftwareexportersetc.).

A102. Establishment of the citizen-centerede-state and development of the frame-work for customer-friendly business-to-consumer and business-to-businessservices.

A103. Makingfurther improvements in liber-alizationoftelecommunicationsmarket,well-functioning regulatory environ-mentandhigh-levelnationaleducationinICTs.

8.12 SpaceTechnology

138. The use of outer space has enormouslyincreasedsincethelaunchofsputnikin1957.Someof themostcriticalcommunicationsys-temssuchasGPS,air trafficcontrol, internet,bankingetc.,alldependontheuseofsatellites.Theclassicaluseofimageryfromouterspacehasbeenasourceofintelligenceaswellasen-vironmentalassessment.Thenaturalresourcesmanagementandenvironmentmonitoringcanbedonemosteffectivelyusingremotesensingdata on the agricultural landuse, hydrology,

andmineralogy.Satellite-aidedsearchandres-cueoperationsonland,seaandairarenowacommonoccurrence.Similarly,themonitoringof climate changes with meteorological sat-ellites can help prevent losses due to naturaldisasters. Important applications in diseasecontrol and health services can be deliveredthroughspacebasedsatellites.

139. Currently, thereareabout3000satellitesofvarioustypesorbitingtheearth,belongingtodifferentspace-faringnations,themostdomi-nantofwhichistheUnitedStatesofAmerica.Realizingtheimportanceofspacecapabilitiesforeconomicanddefenseadvantage, India isspendingaboutUS$650Mperyearonits“Indi-anSpaceResearchOrganization”,employingaworkforceofover16000personnel.Pakistan’sefforts in this areahavenotbeen impressive.InspiteofthefactthatSUPARCOwasestab-lished as early as 1961, only two indigenoussatellitesBADAR–1andBADAR–2havebeenlaunched.EarlierPakistanhadoneleasedsat-elliteingeostationaryorbittomeetitstelecom-municationrequirements.In2011,thissatellitewas replaced byPAKSAT1R.Pakistanhas toenhance its space technology significantly inordertopreserveitssecurity,andtomeeten-vironmental,communicationsandcommercialrequirements.TheestablishmentofanInstituteofSpaceTechnology(IST)in2002wasamajorstepforward.ThefundingofbothSUPARCOandISTmustbeenhancedtopreservecriticalnationalinterestsinupperspace.

140. In recognition of the crucial role thatspace technologycanplay in thedefense,ag-riculture,communications,anddisasterrelief,thefollowingactionsareenvisaged:

PolicyActions:

A104. Launching of a coordinated effort byallrelevantR&Dandhighereducationinstitutions to develop indigenous sat-ellitesandexpertisepertainingtospacetechnology.

A105. Setting-up institutional linkages ofMoSTwithSUPARCOandIST.


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8.13 MaterialsScience

141. Materials scienceplays a significant roleintheeconomicprogressofacountryandcon-tributesdirectlytowardsthegrowthofthein-dustrialsector,particularly;ceramics,plastics,metallurgy, aerospace, telecommunications,transportation, electronics, micro and optoe-lectronics,energy,healthcare,computing,con-sumergoods,andconstruction.Therelevanceofmaterialssciencewithmoderntechnologicaldevelopments needs to be underscored. It isnecessarytoprovidehighlytrainedmanpowerinthisfieldinordertomeetthepresentaswellasfutureneedsofthecountry.

142. Theworld’sfocusofresearchiscurrentlyonengineeringsmartmaterials.Theseincludepiezoelectric, electrostrictive, magnetostric-tive, electrochromic and rheological materi-als, hydrogels, shapememory alloys, sensorsetc.Compositesareanothertypeofmaterials,whicharemadefromtwoormoreconstituentmaterialshavingsignificantlydifferentphysi-cal or chemical properties. These are findingpopularity inhigh-performanceproductsdueto their lightness and strength, such as aero-space components, cars, bicycles etc. Graph-ene, which is one of the strongest materialsevertestedwithabreakingstrength200timesgreater than steel for equal thickness, is alsounder spotlight and is finding applicationsin the form of singlemolecule gas detection,graphene nanoribbons, graphene transistorsetc.

143. Modern materials science has becomea multidisciplinary area and hence requiresstronglinkagesamongphysicists,chemists,bi-ologists, engineers,mathematicians and com-puter scientists. Greater emphasis is neededondevelopingfundamentalunderstandingofmaterials science (tailoringmaterials inordertoacquire thedesiredpropertiesand tomeetthe requirements of specific applications), itsapplicationsandproductdevelopment,aswellas utilization of advance analytical, synthe-sis and processing techniques, and computermodeling.LikeChina(whichiscontrolling97percentoftheworld’srareearthelementmar-

ket),Pakistanneedstodevelopastrongbaseofresearch in rareearthelements/alloys,whichare considered as critical components of thehightechnologyproducts.Someoftheemerg-ingapplicationsofsmartmaterialsareintex-tiles,coatings,electronics,sensorsetc.

144. There is a need of conducting researchonallclassesofmaterials includinghardandsoftmaterials,metals, inter-metallics, organicandinorganicsemiconductors,polymers,com-posite materials, biomedical materials, andvitreous materials. Priority should be giventomaterials synthesis for prevailing ambientconditions of Pakistan and characterizationtechniques inorder tounderstandanddefinethepropertiesofmaterials.Itisnecessarythatthelatestequipmentandresearchfacilitiesaremadeavailabletotheresearchers.

145. Although, there are various universitiesin Pakistan offering Masters and PhD levelcoursesinthefieldofmaterialsscience,aswellas various laboratories in the same field areoperational, there is a need of establishing anumberofresearchinstitutesformaterialssci-enceatthenationallevel,eachspecializinginoneormulti-dimensionalareas.Thesecentersmustactasaninterfacebetweentheacademicinstitutionsandtheindustry.Establishmentofmore departments in universities/R&D insti-tutions/laboratories in Pakistan dealingwiththesamefieldisalsoneededinordertoachievethedesiredlevelofexpertise/competence.

146. The existing gap in developing a strongbase of materials science research would bepluggedwiththefollowingactions:

PolicyAction:

A106. Establishment of a National MaterialsScience Research Institute with a cen-tralized supercomputing facility forcomputationalmaterialsscienceorcon-densedmatterphysics.

8.14 NanoscienceandNanotechnology

147.Nanosciencedealswiththestudyofmat-

Thrust Areas


teratnanoscale, i.e.,onebillionthofameter,andnanotechnology is theability to fabricatedevices at this scale for applications. Matterhavingsizeofafewnanometershaslargesur-facetovolumeratio,thusthesurfacepropertiesdominate over the bulk properties, resultinginalteredmaterialbehavior.Materialsatsuchsmall scales are also dominated by quantumeffects.Thisgivesauniqueopportunitytosci-entists and engineers to develop applicationsbasedonthenovelquantumproperties.Nan-otechnologyhasbeenlabeledasenablingtech-nologycreatingnewapplicationsinmedicine,energy,industry,foodsandconsumergoods.

148.Thedevelopedaswellassomeofthede-velopingcountrieshaverealizedthepotentialofnanotechnologyandhave investedheavilyinsettingupspecializedcentresofexcellencesin variousdisciplines of nanoscience andna-notechnology.Thesecountrieshave launched“National Nanotechnology Initiatives (NNI)”todevelopandharnessthepotentialofnano-scienceandnanotechnology.TheUnitedStateswasthefirstonetodoso.Nowalmostalldevel-opedcountrieshavetheirownNNIs.AmongMuslimcountries,Iranhaspaidspecialatten-tionbysettingupaNanotechnologyInitiativeCouncilin2003,whichiscurrentlyworkingdi-rectlyundertheVicePresidentforScienceandTechnology. Iran has attained 14th positionin theworldwith respect to nanotechnologyproducts.TheUS investment innanotechnol-ogyhascrossedUSD7BillionandtotalWorldinvestmenthascrossedUSD20Billion.Itises-timatedthatby2015,18%ofthetotalconsumerproductswillhaveoneortheotherkindofna-notechnologyinvolvedinit.Thetotalexpectedrevenuesby 2015 are estimated tobe around2.5trilliondollars.Thiswouldbeinnanoma-terials,devicesand tools.Currently,over600firmsinmorethan25countriesareinvolvedinproducingmorethan1000suchproducts.Thenumberofpatentsawardedeachyearhasal-readycrossedthe3000mark.

149.The countries at the forefront of nano-science and technology areUSA, Japan,Ger-many, South Korea, Taiwan, China and UK.

Other countries close to catchingupareRus-sia,FranceandIsrael. Indiahasalso investedheavily in nanoscience and nanotechnology.The objectives of Indian “NanoMission” areto promote basic research, establish interna-tionalcollaboration,conceiveprojectswithpri-vate-publiccollaborationandhumanresourcedevelopment in nanotechnology. They haveestablished3institutesofnanoscienceandna-notechnology, 7 centresofnanoscience&na-notechnology and 11 clusters of nanoscienceandnanotechnology.

150.InPakistan,thesituationisratherdismal.Pakistan is lagging behind despite having agood infrastructure. Certain pockets of exper-tiseexistbecauseoftheearlierfundingbyHECandMoSTbut theseare scattered.ANationalCommissiononNano-ScienceandTechnology(NCNST)constitutedin2003isnowdefunct.ItishightimetorevitalizetheCommissionwitha task to develop the “NationalNanotechnol-ogyInitiative”andbringallthestakeholdersinpublicandprivatesectoronboardtodeveloparoadmapfor thesetechnologies.Theresourcesmustbepooledtoaddresstheproblemsofthecountryinenergy,environment,andhealth.In-stitutes ofNanoscience andNanotechnologiesneed to be developed and equippedwith thestate of the art equipment. The private sectormustbeaskedtocontributeintheresearchfund-ingoftheprojectsdirectlyorindirectlyrelatedtoindustry(onthelinesofICTR&DFund).

PolicyActions:

A107. RevivalofNationalCommissiononNa-no-ScienceandTechnologyfor launch-ingofNationalNanotechnologyInitia-tive.

A108.SettingupofNationalInstitutesofNa-noscience and Nanotechnology to de-velopprojectswithprivate-publicpart-nership.

A109.Enhancingthecapabilitiesoftheexistinglaboratories to develop nano-technolo-gyproducts and trainmanpowerwithrelevantexpertise.


Thrust Areas

A110.Settinguparesearchfundfordevelop-ingproductsusingnanotechnologyandtheircommercialization.

8.15 Lasers&Photonics

151. Lasershavebeenputtoextensiveuseinalmosteveryfieldofhumanactivityincludingdefense,energy,communicationsandinforma-tion processing, data storage, entertainment,manufacturingandmaterialsprocessing (cut-ting,shaping,drilling,welding,surfacehard-ening),micro-machining, catalyzing chemicalprocesses, environmental monitoring and re-motesensing,therapeuticsmedicine,surgery,cosmetic and medical technology, analyticalandforensicscience,biosciences,printing,bar-code reading, and in other basic scientific aswellasindustrialresearch.Thislistisexpectedtogrowfurther in the futureasnewapplica-tionsarediscovered.Infact,nootherscientificdiscoveryofthe20thcenturyhasdemonstrat-edsomanyvariedandexcitingapplicationsaslaserhas.

152. Compared to developed countries, Pa-kistanisfarbehindindevelopingandadopt-ing laser technology (specialized education,indigenousproductionoflasersandtheiruse,relatedinstrumentationandR&D).Duetotheextensive range of applications, internationalmanufacturers of Lasers and Optics have ayearly turnover of several tens of billions ofdollars. However, like many other domains,access to some laser sources and specializedparts is usuallydenied. It is therefore, neces-sarytodevelopindigenousexpertiseirrespec-tive of the cost considerations. Though someworkhasbeen initiated instrategicorganiza-tionsonfabricationofsomepartsoflasersonalimitedscale,reliableoperationoflasersystemsremainsachallenge.ThisnecessitatesamajorinitiativeforestablishmentofanindependentInstitute of Lasers and Photonics outside thestrategicorganizations.Theprimary focus, inthebeginning,couldbeoncapacitybuildingintermsoftrainingandproducinghighlyskilledmanpower(scientists,engineersandtechnolo-gists) together with development of facilities

leadingtodesignandfabricationofprototypelaser systems, optical components, and somerelatedinstrumentation.Additionally,creatingawarenessabout laser technology in thepub-licandpromotionofuseoflasersinourlocalindustryshouldbepartofthemissionofthisInstitute. Finally, carrying out internationallycompetitive and relevant applied and basicresearchtostayuptodatewithnewdevelop-mentsinthisimportantfieldanditsevolvingapplications,andtotransferitsbenefitstothecountryshouldbetheultimatefocus.Publish-ingresearchandtechnicalreports,journalandconference papers, and securing intellectualpropertyrightsthroughpatents,shouldbethekeyperformancemeasures.Organizingwork-shops,conferences,trainingcoursesandpubliclecturesshouldalsobeapartofthemissionofthisinstitute.

PolicyAction:

A111. SettingupofanInstituteforLasersandPhotonics as part of a National Pro-grammeonLasers andPhotonicswiththefollowinggoalsinview:

i. EducationalandTrainingProgrammes

ii. TechnologyTransferalongwith Indig-enousR&D

iii.High Quality and Relevant Basic andAppliedResearch

iv. Business Development and OutreachforIndustrialPartnerships

v. PublicAwarenessDrive

vi.Workshops&Conferences

8.16 EngineeringSector

153. Theengineeringdisciplineshaveabroadrangecoveringallfacetsofsocialandeconomicactivities.Theengineersarerightlyregardedasbuildersofnations,sincetheengineeringprod-uctsandservicesarethemosttangibleobjectsof development activity. Industrialized coun-triesdependontheirengineerstoearnforeignexchange that increases national wealth and

Thrust Areas


enablesgovernmentstoprovidecivicfacilitiestoitscitizens.Engineeringproductsarealsotheoneswheretheroleoftechnologyismostobvi-ous.Theprosperityofanycountryisstronglydependentontherobustnessofitsengineeringand production sectors. Pakistan is endowedwitha largepoolofyoungmanpowerwhichishard-workingandtalentedasevidencedbytheirperformanceininternationallabourmar-ket.Theexistingindustrialinfrastructureinthecountryhasenormouspotentialofexportearn-ing,butismarredbymultifariousproblemsofmanagement,innovation,energysupplies,un-favorable local and international regulations,highinterestratesetc.

154. AjointstudybyHigherEducationCom-mission and Pakistan Institute of Develop-mentEconomics(PIDE),initiatedin2003,hasthoroughly analyzed the industrial capacityofthecountryandproposeddirectionforthefuture developments. The document is enti-tled“Technology-basedIndustrialVisionandStrategy for Pakistan’s Socio Economic De-velopment”(2003).Asnotedintheprefaceofthisreport,itis“basedonin-depthanalysesofmajorproductive sectorsof theeconomy, the

reportidentifieskeyissuesandchallenges,setsoutstrategicobjectivesandtargets,andspellsoutdetailedactionplantorealizethedesiredgoals”.Someofthesectorsthathavebeencov-ered areAgriculture, Textiles, Leather Indus-tries, Materials, Chemical Process Industry,Engineering goods, Electronics, Energy, Tel-ecommunications, Information Technology,ConstructionandHousingandTransport.

155. Considering that the document men-tioned in theabovepara is a resultof theef-fortsofalargenumberofPakistaniexpertsindifferentfieldsoveraperiodoftwoyears,theST&Imanagementsystemshouldensurethatthe recommendationsmade in the report areimplemented. The following action is envis-agedinthisrespect.

PolicyAction:

A112. Help and support for the implementa-tionoftheproposalsdocumentedinthejointreportsofHECandPIDE,entitled‘Technology-based Industrial Visionand Strategy for Pakistan’s Socio-eco-nomicDevelopment,2003’.

Consolidated List of Policy Actions


ConsolidatedListofPolicyActions

Chapter-2:VisionandObjectives

A1. DeclarationofthepoliticalwillthatS&Tcapacitybuildingwouldbeacentralpillarofna-tionaldevelopmentstrategyandtheR&Dexpenditurewouldbeenhancedto1.0%ofGDPby2015and2.0%by2020.

A2. Commitmenttocreatealong-termnon-partisanST&Ipolicywiththeconsensusofallstake-holdersandputtinginplacealegalframeworkforensuringcontinuityofthepolicyandal-locationofrequiredfunds.

A3. IssuingtheguidelinesforshiftingthefocusofR&Dtowardsdemandsidewithfullparticipa-tionofprivatesectorandemployingmechanismstofosterinnovation.

Chapter-3:S&TPlanningandManagementStructure

A4. Re-compositionofNCSTandECNCST

A5. TheestablishmentofPCSTasanautonomousbodythroughanActofParliament.

A6. Establishmentofawell-staffedST&IPolicycellinPCST.

A7. Coordinationwith theProvincialGovernments toestablishandoperationalizeprovincialDepartmentsofScienceandTechnology.

A8. StrengtheningofTechnicalWingsintheMinistryofScienceandTechnologyforevaluationandmonitoringofR&Dactivities.

Chapter-4:HumanResources

A9. Reviewofsyllabi forscienceatprimary levelwithemphasisaccordedtodevelopmentofcreativethinkingandproblemsolvingskills.

A10. Enhancementofteachers’skillsandapproachesconcerning‘howtoteachscience’.

A11. Motivationalprogrammesforstudentstoengageincreativeactivities.

A12. Schemesforinvokinginterestinscienceandacquisitionofrelevantknowledgeattheveryearlyage.

A13. Developmentofthecurriculaatsecondaryandhighersecondarylevelsinsuchamannerastoincreaseinterestinscienceandtechnologyamongthestudents.

A14. Ensuringtheavailabilityofqualifiedandtrainedteachersatsecondaryandhighersecond-aryschoolsforteachingofsciencesubjects.

A15. Provisionoffullyequippedsciencelaboratoriesatschoolstodemonstratethecurriculare-latedexperiments.

A16. Devisingcounselingprogrammeforstudentstohelpselectthesciencesubjectmoreappro-priatetotheiraptitude.

A17. Accesstoscientific,engineeringandtechnicalhighereducationtobeincreasedbyenhancingtheexistingfacilitiesandestablishingnewinstitutions.



A18. Thequalityofeducationtobeenhancedthroughprovisionofqualifiedfaculty,up-gradationoflabs,andaccesstoscientificinformation.

A19. Attractingtalentedstudentswithanaptitudeforresearchbyprovidingassuredcareerop-portunitiesinacademia,industryandothersectors.

A20. Developmentofmechanismforlinkageandmobilityofprofessionalsamongtheacademia,industryandresearchinstitutions.

A21. Promotionofapplied research through technology incubationandbusinessdevelopmentcentresateducationalandresearchinstitutions.

A22. Expansionofthenetworkoftechnicaltrainingfacilities.

A23. Standardizationofthetrainingprogrammestobringthematparwiththeinternationallyrecognizedqualifications.

A24. Regulationofthe“MadrasshEducationsystem”and‘Ustaad’systemofskilldevelopment.

A25. TheprogrammesunderNationalSkillStrategyPolicy tobe integrated intoS&Tdevelop-mentsystem.

A26. CreationofasinglescientificandengineeringcadreforallemployeesofMoSTorganizationsonthebasisofSPS–payscales.

A27. GrantingofautonomytotheS&TorganizationsunderMinistryofScienceandTechnologyandadoptionofuniformrules,andregulationswithperformancebasedpromotioncriteria.

A28. Enlargingthescopeofprizesandawardsforindividualsandorganizationsmakingimpor-tantcontributionstowardsS&Tdevelopmentandpublicawarenessoftheirachievements.

A29. Helpingscientistsintheprocessofpatentregistrationandsharingofprofitsofcommercial-izedproducts.

A30. Coverageofscientificlectures,meetingsandreportsonelectronicandprintmedia.

A31. Strengthening PSF programmes and outreach for effective dissemination of informationevokingpublicinterestinsciencethrough,interalia,sciencecaravansandexhibitions.

Chapter–5:IndigenousTechnologyDevelopment

A32. Constitutionofa task forcewithanumberof sub-committees topropose specificactionswiththeidentificationofagenciesresponsibleforexecutingtheseactionsinordertoachievethefollowingresults.

i. EstablishmentofcloselinkagesbetweenindustriesandR&Dinstitutions/universities.

ii. Incentivesforscientistsworkingonindustry-relatedprojects.

iii. Inductionofhigh-qualitymanpowerfromabroadforaddressinglocalindustryissues.

iv. TechnicalsupporttoSMEsforenhancingthequalityoftheirproductsbasedonindig-enousresources.

v. EstablishmentoftechnologyincubationcentersinR&Dorganizations.



vi. Prioritizationforrapiddevelopmentofselectedindustrieswithhighesteconomicben-efits.

vii. Analysisofreverseengineeringpotentialandrelevantissues,withrecommendationofexecutionplans.

viii. Collaborationwithforeignproductionsectortolearnbestpractices.

ix. ImprovementofMSTQsystem.

x. GrantingenhancedfinancialautonomytoR&Dorganizations.

xi. Motivatingbigindustrialenterprisestoset-upresearchwings.

xii. EstablishmentofnewR&Dorganizationsinmulti-disciplinaryareas.

xiii. ImprovinglabandfieldfacilitiesofexistingR&Dorganizations/universitiesandcrea-tionofadatabaseofequipmentforsharingthelaboratoryresources.

A33. AttractingFDIinadvancedtechnologyproductionthroughfinancialincentivesandprovi-sionofphysicalinfrastructure.

A34. Ensuringtheavailabilityoflocalmanpowersuitableforabsorptioninhightechcompanies.

A35. Devising a public procurement policy that gives preference to indigenous products andprocesses.

A36. Utilizingtheknow-howdevelopedbyalargepoolofhighlyqualifiedmanpowerinstrategicorganizationsforindustrialapplications.

A37. Developingsimpletechnologiesforrelievingtheconcernsofdeprivedsectionsofsociety,relatedtowater,energy,housing,hygieneetc.

A38. Takingstepstoenhancetheshareofcottageindustryinnationaleconomy.

A39. EstablishmentofabodyunderMoSTforthecodificationofindigenousknowledgeanditseffectiveuseinproductionsector.

A40. CreatingthepositionofaLiaisonOfficerintheMinistryofScienceandTechnologytocoor-dinatetheIPRrelatedactivitiesacrossallR&DorganizationsincloseassociationwithIPO,Pakistan.

A41. Establishmentof InnovationFundtosponsorprojectsbasedon innovativeapproaches toenhanceproductivity.

A42. CoordinationwiththefinancialinstitutionsofthecountrytoinstallVentureCapitalschemeswithpublic-privatepartnership.

A43. Devisingrulesconcerningtheavailabilityofprivateequityfundstopublicsectororganiza-tions.

Chapter–6:TechnologyTransferandtheCreationofAbsorptiveCapacity

A44. Provisionoffundingforincreasingabsorptivecapacityofpublicandprivateproductionsec-tor.



A45. TaxincentivesforfirmsthoseareabletointegrateintoGlobalProductionNetworks.

A46. Directivesfornegotiatinginternationaltradeagreementstoensuretechnologytransfer.

A47. Offeringofincentivestoachievereversebraindrain.

Chapter–7:InternationalCooperation

A48. Designationofa‘monitoringteam’forperiodicallyreviewingprogressonbilateralMoUsanddisseminationofrelevantinformationtoresearchinstitutionsandministries.

A49. Ensuringstrongparticipationinmultilateralscientificfora.

A50. CapitalizingthescientificleadershiproleprovidedbyPakistanbasedIGOs.

Chapter–8:ThrustAreas

Metrology, Standards, Testing and Quality (MSTQ)A51. SettingupNPSLastheNationalMetrologyOrganizationasaseparateentity,independent

ofPCSIR(subjecttotheenactmentofasinglecadreforemployeesofscientificorganizationsunderMoST).

A52. StrengtheningPNACandPSQCAintermsofmanpowerandinfrastructureinordertoen-hancetheirrolesofaccreditationandstandardization,respectively.

A53. RestructuringPSQCAandredefiningitsfunctionstoremovejurisdictionaloverlapwiththefunctionsofNPSLandPNACthroughamendmentsinthePSQCAAct.

A54. Increasingthenumberofmandatorystandardsmanifoldfromitscurrentfigureof85.Thesestandards should also be enforced on imported goods to prevent the localmarket beingfloodedbysub-standardgoodsofforeignorigin.

A55. Harmonizingfederalandprovinciallawstoensurethatthesamestandardsareuniformlyapplicablethroughoutthecountry.

A56. InvolvingtheprovincialsetupsintheenforcementofPakistanStandardsandstrengtheningthemadequatelyforthispurpose.

A57. Increasing thenumberof ISO/IEC17025accredited laboratories and certification/inspectionbodiesinvarioussectorsinthecountrytofacilitatetheavailabilityofinternationallyacceptableaccreditationtotheexporters,andlaunchingofnewaccreditationschemesonISO/IEC17024,ISO/IEC17043,ProductCertificateISO/IECGuide65andPS4996:2010forHalalCertificate.

EnvironmentA58. Developmentofcosteffectivesewagetreatmentplants.

A59. DevelopmentofIndustry-specificbiotechnologicalwaste-watertreatmentprocesses.

A60. Powergenerationthroughincinerationofsolidwaste.

A61. Development of catalytic converters for retrofitting vehicles forminimizing the emissionproblems.

A62. AssistanceinmeetingtheobjectivesofEnvironmentPolicy–2005,whichinteralia,aimto:vii. Phaseoutsulfurfromdieselandfurnaceoil.



viii. Establishcleanerproductioncentersandpromotecleanerproductiontechniquesandpractices.

ix. Providealternatesourcesofenergy,likepipednaturalgas,LiquefiedPetroleumGas(LPG),solarenergyandmicro-hydelpowerstations,tothelocalinhabitantstoreducethepressureonnaturalforest,andtosubstitutefirewoodintheuplandecosystems.

x. Promotetheuseofozonefriendlytechnologies;andphaseouttheuseofozonedeplet-ingsubstancesinlinewiththeprovisionsoftheMontrealProtocol.

xi. Promoterecyclingofagriculturalproductsassociatedwith livestockproductionanduseoflivestocksectorasanoutletforrecyclingofappropriateurbanwaste.

xii. Introduceadequateanimalwastemanagementsysteminperi-urbandairycolonies.

Health and PharmaceuticalsA63. DevelopmentofR&Dcapacityforproducingactivedrugcomponentsandupgradationof

drugqualitytestinglaboratories.

A64. NecessarystepsforPCSIR,PeshawartobeWHOrecognizedHerbalMedicineCentre.

A65. Establishmentofnewfacilitiesforvaccinesproductionandmanufacturingofmedicalinstru-mentationanddiagnosticequipment,forlocalneedsaswellasexportpurposes.

EnergyA66. HarmonizingtheeffortsmadeintheenergysectorbydifferentMinistries,departmentsand

researchcentresbycreatingan‘EnergyCouncil’withheadsofrelevantorganizations.TheCouncilwillbeentrustedtoadviseonpriorityareasforR&Dandmanagementofresourcesandtofillthegaps.

A67. AcquisitionoftechnologyforbuildingnuclearpowerreactorsthroughR&Daswellastrans-feroftechnologyagreements.

A68. ConstitutingR&DtaskforcefordevelopingprocessestoconvertCoalandCoalgasforenvi-ronment-friendlyenergyproductionsandtheirconversiontoeconomicallyusefulproducts.

A69. Developmentofpilotprojectsand their large-scaledisseminationbasedonexisting tech-nologiessuchassolarwaterheaters,biogasplants,photovoltaicetc.

A70. Announcementofincentives(e.g.taxholiday)totheprivatesectorforthemanufacturingofrenewableenergyproducts,componentsandsystems,suchassolarthermalpowersystemcomponents,windenergytechnologycomponents,biogasplantsetc.

A71. Creationofa‘RenewableEnergyFund’forresearchintothedevelopmentofnewREtech-nologies such as hydrogen fuel cell, Fresnelmirrors and low-cost/high-efficiencyphoto-voltaicpanels.

A72. Ensureutilizationofalternativeenergysourcesandgetadequateallocationforactualizationofprovincialprojects/plans.

A73. BiotechnologyandGeneticEngineering Re-establishmentof‘NationalCommissiononBiotechnology’andchargingitwiththetask

ofcoordinatingnation-wideresearchprogrammesindifferentareaswherebiotechnologycanbeapplied.

A74. Reviewingthedraftof‘NationalBiotechnologyandGeneticEngineeringPolicyandActionPlan’andimplementingitwiththesupportofrelevantorganizations.



A75. Enactingbiotechnologyrelatedlegislations.

A76. Establishmentofbiotechnologyincubationcenters.

Agriculture and Livestock A77. Developmentofgeneticmodificationexpertiseforproducinghighyield/pestresistantcrops.

A78. Usingnewtechnologiessuchasremotesensing,laserland-levelling,bio-fertilizersandsolartube-wellsforenhancementofefficiencyinthesectoroffarmproduce.

A79. Producing,preservingandprocessingfruitsandvegetablesthatsatisfyfood-chainrequire-mentsoftheinternationalmarket.

A80. EstablishingfacilitiesforproducingqualitycontrolledHalalfoodforMuslimconsumersindifferentpartsoftheworld.

A81. Supportingschemesformoderntechniquesinpoultry,livestockandfishfarming.

WaterA82. Providinghelpandsupportfortheimplementationof‘NationalWaterPolicy–2009’and

‘NationalDrinkingWaterStandards’.

A83. Completionofprojectsforestablishingwatertreatmentplantsinallunioncouncils.

A84. ImplementationofwaterconservationtechnologiesandassistanceinthepromulgationoftheWaterConservationAct.

A85. Developmentofinexpensivetechniquesforwaterdesalinationandpurificationfordomesticuse,andtreatmentofwastewater.

MineralsA86. ProvisionofsupportfortheimplementationofNationalMineralsPolicy1995.

A87. UndertakingR&Dworkforutilizingthefullpotentialofcoalreserves.

A88. Developmentoftechnologiesforprocessingdifferentindigenousorestoextractproductsofhighcommercialvalue.

Ocean ResourcesA89. Mappingofoceanicresources inthemaritimeExclusiveEconomicZoneaswellasunder

seabedforassessingthepotentialoftheirutilization.

A90. Exploitationof tidalenergypotentialandsea-basedmineralssuchasmanganesenodulesandgashydrates.

A91. Developmentofsea-basedaquacultureandfisheryindustry.

ElectronicsA92. Launchingofspecificprogrammesfortheautomationoflocalindustry.

A93. Setting-upElectronicsFacilitationCentresforprovidingadvice,trainingandservicestosup-portproductionofelectronicsgoodsandelectronics-basedequipment.

A94. InformationandCommunicationTechnologies(ICTs)SupportfortheimplementationoftheITPolicyandActionPlan.



A95. EstablishmentofpublicICTIndustrialParks. (TherearenumberofexistingIT/ICTsparksbuttheproposedICTindustrialparkswill

consist ofmanynational level sub-parks and technical support bases, including;microe-lectronics industry,software industryexportbase,software industrybase,semiconductorlighting (light emittingdiode–LED)base, information securitybase, ICdesign industrybase,electronicinformationindustrybase,ICdesignpark,multimediaindustrypark,mul-timediavalley,digitalmediaindustrypark,internationaloutsourcingpark,opto-electronicsindustrialpark,paneldisplayindustrybase&supportsoftwareparks).

A96. DeployingICTacrosssectorstoimprovethesectoralgrowth,e.g.SMEstobeencouragedtouseICTsforimprovementoftheircompetitiveness.

A97. Supportinge-commerceande-governanceapplications. (ManycountriesinAsiaaretakingadvantageofe-commercethroughopeningofeconomies,

whichisessentialforpromotingcompetitionanddiffusionofInternettechnologies).

A98. Encouragingentrepreneurialactivitiessuchasoffshorelow-costBusinessProcessingCen-tres.

A99. Promotingopensourcesoftware. (Theestablishmentofacentralbodyisrecommendedtodevelopandmonitorstandard,free

opensourcesoftwarethatcanbeimplementedinallpublicofficesandeducationinstitutes.Thiswillhelpinsavinghandsomeamountthatisbeinggivenagainstpurchaseofannuallicenses.Inthisregard,Indonesia’smodelcanbeadopted.Indonesiahasmorethan90%ofGovt.officesonlocallymaintainedopensourcesoftware).

A100. SharingofICTsresourcestomeetlargevolumecomputing. (ThereisaneedtointroduceandsupportsharedICTservices(likewebplatformsagainst

securitythreats,informationportals,developmentofstreetviews)andprovidelargevolumecomputingservices(byinstallingsupercomputersforpublicusebylargeentrepreneurs/multinationals).Servicecanbeprovidedonrentalbasistoensuresustainabilityoftheserv-ice).

A101. OfferingICT-relatedfinancialincentives(taxholidays/introductionofspecialtaxratesforsoftwareexportersetc.).

A102. Establishmentofthecitizen-centerede-stateanddevelopmentoftheframeworkforcustom-er-friendlybusiness-to-consumerandbusiness-to-businessservices.

A103. Making further improvements in liberalizationof telecommunicationsmarket,well func-tioningregulatoryenvironmentandhighlevelnationaleducationinICTs.

Space TechnologyA104. LaunchingofacoordinatedeffortbyallrelevantR&Dandhighereducationinstitutionsto

developindigenoussatellitesandexpertisepertainingtospacetechnology.

A105. Setting-upinstitutionallinkagesofMoSTwithSUPARCOandIST.

Materials ScienceA106. EstablishmentofaNationalMaterialsScienceResearchInstitutewithacentralizedsuper-

computingfacilityforcomputationalmaterialsscienceorcondensedmatterphysics.



Nanoscience and NanotechnologyA107. RevivalofNationalNano-technologyCommissionorlaunchingofNationalNanotechnol-

ogyInitiative.

A108. SettingupofNational InstitutesofNanoscienceandNanotechnologytodevelopprojectswithprivate–publicpartnership.

A109. Enhancingthecapabilitiesoftheexistinglaboratoriestodevelopnano-technologyproductsandtrainmanpowerwithrelevantexpertise.

A110. Settinguparesearchfundfordevelopingproductsusingnanotechnologyandtheircom-mercialization.

Lasers & PhotonicsA111. SettingupofanInstituteforLasersandPhotonicsaspartofaNationalProgrammeonLasers

andPhotonicswiththefollowinggoalsinview:i. EducationalandTrainingProgrammesii. TechnologyTransferalongwithIndigenousR&Diii. HighQualityandRelevantBasicandAppliedResearchiv. BusinessDevelopmentandOutreachforIndustrialPartnershipsv. PublicAwarenessDrivevi. Workshops&Conferences

Engineering Sector A112. Helpandsupportfortheimplementationoftheproposalsdocumentedinthejointreport

ofHECandPIDE,entitled‘Technology-basedIndustrialVisionandStrategyforPakistan’sSocio-economicDevelopment-2003’.

Pakistan Council for Science and Technology (PCST)Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of PakistanShahrah-e-Jamhuriat, Sector G-5/2, Islamabad, PakistanPhone No. +92 (51) 9204860, 9205157 Fax No. +92 (51) 9205171

www.pcst.org.pk

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