LAHORE - Federal Minister for Science and Technology Changez Khan Jamali has demanded over Rs100 billion funds from the government in the upcoming budget to magnify development in the science and technology field.
“A few days ago I held a meeting with deputy chairman planning commission and asked him to earmark at least one percent of the GDP (over Rs100 billion) for the development of science and technology in Pakistan,” Minister said this while speaking at the 2nd Corporate Ambassador Awards 2012 and the launching of Online Edition of the CA in Karachi on Saturday evening.
He said that adequate funds must be allocated in the new budget to promote science and technology development in the country.
Minister said that by December 2011, the number of people using internet had increased to 2.1 billion and 44 percent of them are Asians.
About 555 million websites are available online while in 2011 alone, 300 million new websites were established all over the world, he said, adding in other words more than 50 percent of the global websites were created in 2011 that shows a robust growth just in one field of the modern technology.
With the passage of time, the modern technology is deeply penetrating into our social life. You can see different devices and equipments like computers, mobile phones, internet, digital games and several other electronic items that have become an integral part of our life, he said. I request to my countrymen to take maximum benefit from this rapidly growing technology in the world and I believe that the launching of Online Edition of Corporate Ambassador is a right decision to expand the outreach of the newspaper from Pakistan to the world’s map.
He also appreciated the Second Corporate Ambassador Awards and launching of Online Edition of the weekly newspaper. “It is heartening to note that the Corporate Ambassador is promoting the coverage of corporate sector and also encouraging the eminent personalities who are playing an important role in the social, cultural and economic development and image building of Pakistan.”
Speaking on the occasion, Majyd Aziz, former KCCI president said the government must make serious efforts to promote technology in Pakistan. He said that there was enormous potential of growth and investment in the field of science and technology in the country.
He urged the minister to use his influence to motivate the government to support development of technology and exports. Later on the Minister gave awards to Silkbank, EFU General Insurance, Majyd Aziz, Roomi Syed, showbiz icon; Faisal Malik, an expert of performing art; Pervaiz Asghar, director general of the National Center for Maritime Policy Research and Zahid Karani, senior diplomatic affairs journalist.
The other dignitaries and organizations that received awards/shields are: Muhammad Ashraf Shaheen, director Power Group; Erum Zaidi, senior business journalist; Col ® Sabahuddin Chaudhry, security chief, Citi Bank; Pakistan National Accreditation Council (PNAC), Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA), Pakistan Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR), Erum Zaidi, Muhammad Ashraf Shaheen, director Power Engineering and Muttahir A. Khan, Samreen Hameed. Editor Corporate Ambassador Javed Mahmood, gave a memento to the chief guest for participating in the awards and launching of online edition.