Executive Committee of NCST (ECNCST)

In order to coordinate, oversee and review the S&T Policies and R&D Programmes and implementation of the Policy Decisions taken by the National Commission for Science and Technology, the Executive Committee of the Commission (ECNCST) was constituted.

Functions:

1. Consideration of all matters pertaining to Science and Technology and coordination of Research and Development (R&D) policies initiated by various Ministries/Divisions of the Federal Government and S&T Organizations/R&D Institutions.
2. Overseeing the implementation of policy decisions taken by the National Commission for Science and Technology.
3. To review from time to time Science and Technology Policy and its effect on production and development sectors.
4. To provide guidelines for programming of Research and Development activities to various Ministries/Divisions and S&T Organizations/R&D Institutions in the country and to lay down priorities for Research and Development Programmes.
5. To identify and propose measures for gradual attainment of self-reliance in the field of Science and Technology.
6. To evaluate the performance in the field of S&T of various Ministries/Divisions of the Government and other S&T Organizations/R&D Institutions from time to time in relation to specific policies and measures for promotion of research and development in Pakistan.
7. To review annual reports of all major S&T Organizations/R&D Institutions, ECNCST shall meet once in each quarter.

Meetings of ECNCST (4th & 5th Meetings)

In order to prepare agenda and working paper for the 3rd meeting of the National Commission for Science and Technology (NCST), PCST invited proposals from members of PCST, NCST and ECNCST, relevant Ministries, Provincial Departments dealing with the subject of science and technology, major S&T organizations and leading scientists and technologists of the country. The proposals received were carefully examined and preliminary agenda items were short-listed. These agenda items were further examined and discussed in several meetings with the Minister for Science and Technology, Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology and leading scientists and technologists. Based on these meetings and discussions a draft agenda for the 3rd meeting of NCST was prepared by the Council.

The Council organized 4th meeting of ECNCST on 14-09-2001 and placed the draft agenda before the members for consideration. The meeting was chaired by Prof. Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman, Minister for Science and Technology. ECNCST discussed the agenda thoroughly and suggested that the agenda items should be further reviewed by an inter-ministerial committee. The Minister constituted a committee under the chairmanship of Dr. A.Q. Khan to coordinate the efforts of all three Ministries (Ministry of Industries, Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Education), currently involved in implementing Intellectual Property Rights Laws and suggest measures to improve existing system of patents and intellectual property rights. The Minister also constituted another committee under Rector NUST to further review and examine Agenda Items on policy issues and submit their recommendations for consideration in the next meeting of ECNCST.

The Committee under Rector, NUST met on 22nd September 2001 where it was decided that some of the issues presented as agenda item for consideration of the Chief Executive could be resolved at the Ministerial level. The revised agenda was presented to ECNCST in its 5th meeting, held on 16-10-2001. ECNCST approved the Agenda for the third meeting of NCST.