LAHORE - Minister of State for Science and Technology Rahila Shahadat Baloch said that we should promote the culture of innovation to provide jobs to our youth and put the country on the path of economic prosperity.
She was addressing the one-day ‘Invention to Innovation Summit 2012’ organised by Punjab University in collaboration with Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF) and Institute for Research Promotion on Monday.
Addressing the participants, Rahila Baloch said that China and India were on the path of progress by adopting new innovative technologies. She also said that China was the biggest user of solar technology. Universities should promote the culture of research, Baloch added.
Punjab University Vice Chancellor Dr Mujahid Kamran said that illiterate nations were bound to destroy and dominated by literate nations, therefore the first word of the Holy Quran “Iqra” urges the mankind to read. He said the nations who ponder and think carefully before taking decisions and implementations remained successful. He highlighted the importance of education and emphasised that government should spend at least 4 to 5 per cent of GDP on education.
PSF Chief Dr Manzoor Soomro said that there should be consistency in the policies. He said that despite the financial constraints the PSF was working for the promotion of science and technology in the country and its doors were open for all the stakeholders. He said that an academia and industry linkage was must for success.
Dr Farid Malik in his key note suggested that there should be a major restructuring in the ministry of science and technology. Pakistan Technology Board should be revived, he suggested. Energy, textile, agriculture and livestock, telecommunication and information technology sectors need special attention, he maintained.
Abid HK Sherwani said that summit had provided a platform to move forward on the path of innovation and invention. He said that steps should be taken for the commercialisation of innovative products. He said that technology should be transfer to industry so that people could benefit from innovation.