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Second
Meeting of NCST
The 2nd meeting
of the NCST was held on 2nd May, 2000 under the Chairmanship
of Gen. Parvez Musharaf, President and Chief Executive of
Pakistan. The meeting approved in principle a number of recommendations
in the broad areas of Human Resource Development, Upgradation
/ Strengthening of R&D Infrastructure, Restructuring of
R&D Organizations, Technology Development and Industrialization,
Strengthening of Policy, Coordination and Management Structure
and Information Technology.
HUMAN
RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Recommendations:
-
The
promising Universities, Institutes, or Centres, which
are able to provide M.Phil/ Ph.D level training programmes
be strengthened and brought to international level for
training Ph.D. level scientific and technological manpower
in critical fields of Science and Technology. Ten such
institutions be selected for the purpose.
-
A scheme be launched to invite 25 renowned expatriate
Pakistani Scientists and Technologists settled in USA,
Canada and Europe, etc. to Pakistan each year, for a period
of 3 months to 1 year.
-
A
scheme be launched to invite 25 senior foreign academicians
& experts in science and technology from advanced
western countries for one to two year duration to work
in R&D institutions and universities in Pakistan,
each year.
- A national
programme of producing about 300 Ph.Ds annually in important
fields of Science and Technology at Pakistani Universities,
Institutes and Centers be launched. The Universities be
supported to develop/upgrade their facilities in terms of
equipment, consumables, books, etc.
- A limited
number of 100 permanent faculty members of universities
or scientists and technologists of research institutions
in public sector be sent to institutions in advanced Western
countries for training at M.S/Ph.D. levels, each year.
- A scheme
should be introduced for 6-12 months postdoctoral level
training of 100 Pakistani scientists annually in suitable
institutions abroad in priority areas related to national
needs.
- Existing
Polytechnic Colleges be strengthened and more training Institutes
/ Centers be established on the pattern of Pak-Swiss Training
Institute to meet the requirement of skilled manpower in
the new and emerging high-tech fields.
- A system
of contractual appointment should be introduced whereby
the scientists and technologists including those retired
with high caliber are inducted on a temporary contract basis
with a much higher salary structure for 3 years tenure (extendable),
and their research productivity is independently assessed
by an international level panel of referees before their
tenures are renewed or permanency granted. The salaries
of Ph.D. level scientists/technologists should be brought
at par with those prevailing in industry / commerce so as
to attract the brightest students to opt for careers in
various scientific and technological fields.
- Educational
Research and Curriculum Development be given high priority
in order to develop high standards of education and training.
UP-GRADATION
OF THE R&D INFRASTRUCTURE AND LAUNCHING OF R&D PROGRAMMES
Recommendations:
a) Up-gradation of
the R&D Infrastructure
- The existing R&D organizations
and S&T departments of Universities, Institutes, Centers
shall be critically examined and rationalized, and their
infrastructure updated to the International level to conduct
meaningful R&D. This will stimulate key development
sectors for enhanced productivity and rapid economic growth.
- Facilities shall be developed
at suitable locations for manufacturing, repair and maintenance
of laboratory equipment indigenously to support research
and development on sustained basis.
- The R&D component of
the recurring grants of R&D Organizations, S&T Departments
of Universities, Institutes and Centers is enhanced by 3
-4 fold.
b) Launching
of R&D Programmes
-
Food
and Agriculture:(i)
Development of high yield, disease resistant and stress-tolerant
crop varieties; (ii) Development of biological pest control
methods; (iii) Development and commercialization of food
processing and preservation techniques; (iv) Controlling
water logging and salinity; (v) Development of methods
for increasing efficiency of the irrigation systems.
- Energy:
(i) Energy resources assessment, Exploration and
exploitation, (ii) Utilization of indigenous low quality
coal, (iii) Development and adaptation of renewable energy
resources, viz. solar, wind and other alternative technologies,
(iv) Energy efficiency improvement and conservation, (vi)
Adoption of environmental control technologies, etc.
- Health:
(i) Development of cheaper, safer and efficient methods
for the control of communicable and epidemic diseases, (ii)
Acquiring of modem techniques for diab1Jlosis and treatment
(iii) Carrying out a national nutrition survey for assessment
of the problems of malnutrition in different sections of
the society and in different areas of the country; (iv)
Developing cheaper and effective methods for purification
of water resources and safe disposal of municipal and industrial
wastes, etc.
- Electronics:
(i) Silicon technology, (ii) Design and development of communication
satellite/ancillary ground equipment; (iii) Optical Instruments,
(iv) establishment of electronics parks for promotion of
the electronics industry , etc.
- Biotechnology:
(i) Production of transgenic plants containing useful monogenic
traits, (ii) Development of insect/virus resistance in crops,
(iii) Nutritional quality improvement in rice and chickpea~
(iv) Development of microbial fertilizers, (v) Studies of
mechanisms of pathogenesis, resistance to drugs and genetic
susceptibility/resistance of the host, (vi) Plant tissue
culture for micro-propagation of banana, peach, coconut,
date-palm etc., production of mini-tuber in potato, and
large-scale forestation, (vii) Floriculture technology ,
(viii) Tapping of plant resources of Pakistan for the isolation
of those drugs which are in international demand by the
pharmaceutical industry, (ix) Biological control of pests,
(x) Human DNA typing including micro-satellites, y-chromosome
polymorphism and mitochondria DNA (mtDNA) analysis of various
Pakistani populations from the clinical, evolutionary and
forensic points of view, etc.
- Pharmaceuticals:
(i) Conversion of molasses to citric acid, alcohol etc.
and other products based on such fermentation processes,
(ii) Use of indigenous medicinal plants for the manufacture
of ingredients of modem medicines which are presently imported
from abroad (such as codeine, morphine etc.), (iii) Production
of pharmaceuticals from slaughter house wastes (for example
insulin, oxytocin, pituitary extracts, plasma substitute
etc.), (iv) Production of inorganic chemicals such as magnesium
tri-silicate, aluminum hydroxide, ferrous salts, kaolin
etc., (v) Production of 20 essential drugs identified by
UNIDO based on imported intermediate, etc.
- Textiles:
(i) Improvement in fabric quality and improvement in the
technology of finishing, dyeing, printing and finishing
to ensure the correct finishing shrinkage control and uniformity
in the finishing processes, (ii)Textile designing and its
higher reproducibility, (iii) Textile marketing, etc.
- New
Materials:
(i) Foundation grade pig iron, (ii) Electrical, surgical
and other alloy steels, (iii) Ferrous alloys, (iv) Refined
copper and its alloys, (v) Aluminum and its alloys (vi)
Composite materials including ceramics and polymers, and
(vii) Rare earth metal, (viii) Technology for DRI processes
for sponge iron, power metallurgy, vacuum metallurgy, foundry
and casting technology, composite materials such as glass
fibers and carbon fibres, etc.
- Engineering:
(i) Design and development, (ii) Production Processes and
systems, (iii) Automation, CAD/CAM, and Robotics, (iv) Use
of New Materials, (v) Reverse engineering and Deletion,
(vi) Modernization and updating, (vii) Quality control,
etc
- Ocean
Resources: (i) Studies in aquaculture including
fish and prawn culture, (ii) Coastal and offshore ecosystems,
(iii) Productivity studies in europhic and oligotrophic
oceanic environments, (iv) Marine biotechnology, geology/geophysics,
(v) Physical and chemical oceanography, (vi) Drugs from
marine organisms, (vii) Production of industrial materials
including alginic acid, chitin, chitosan, poultry feed,
gelatins, etc.
- Defence:
(i) Automated guidance systems, up-gradation of
radars, warning receivers and EW equipment on existing aircrafts;
(ii) Defence equipment technology for aircraft and ship
building, systems analysis and integration, rocket and missiles,
radars and micro- electronics, arms and ammunition, automotive
vehicles; (iii) Materials and chemical technology, (iv)
Electrical and Electronic technology, etc.
RESTRUCTURING
OF R&D ORGANIZATIONS
Recommendations:
(i) Legal Framework
- At a minimum those R&D
Organizations established under Resolutions be converted
under Act(s) and certain measure of uniformity be introduced.
- The Boards of Governors of
Many R&D organizations need to be reconstituted to have
primarily the Scientists and Technologists with balanced
representation of public and private sector. The numbers
should not be so large as to make the Governing Bodies unwieldy
and unmanageable.
- The main level of external
control over R&D organizations frequently used by the
Government is the policy direction issued to them. To curtail
frequent Government interference under Policy directions
it is desirable that the term Policy and its parameters
be clearly defined in the law and not left to arbitrary
misuse by the Government/ Ministries.
- Many of the laws under which
R&D organizations are functioning were legislated many
years ago. Some of them are old and outdated. All these
laws need to be reviewed Keeping in view model legislation
in other suitable countries as well as Legislation of organizations
like PAEC, KRL, and PSF, etc.
(ii) Administrative
Measures
- The Heads of Organizations
should be appointed by the Board of Governors through transparent
open competition.
- Once appointed, the Heads
of Organizations should have the authority to hire and fire,
promote and transfer, etc. in accordance with the provisions
of the Acts, Rules and Regulations.
- To avoid stagnation and frustration
at the management/ policy levels inter-institution transfer
may be introduced. Inter-institution transfers should be
made at levels where management of R&D and technology
are the primary tasks rather than direct participation in
operational research.
- Where necessary for special
projects, the Head of Organization must have the authority
to fill in a professional gap by making contract appointments
on terms and conditions to be approved by the Board of Governors/
Executive Committee.
- Uniform service conditions,
financial benefits and other facilities be introduced in
all R&D organizations on priority basis.
- A system of tenure track appointments
may be experimented with. Initially a two track policy where
existing incumbents may choose a tenure appointment or a
tenure track appointment, which would facilitate transition.
(iii) Structural Changes
- Most R&D organizations
do not have short/medium term business plans let long term
plans. These business plans should be made obligatory for
all institutes. Within the business plans the maximum emphasis
should be on meeting the end-users requirements.
- A major weakness with our
R&D organizations is poor ability to prepare and approve
projects. Many projects are undertaken without clear reference
to socio-economic needs, availability of funds, and caliber
of the available team to deliver, or time framework for
completion of the research effort. All R&D organizations
should have a system of Research Advisory Committees and
a project selection system, which would approximate that
adopted by PSF for evaluation and funding of research projects.
- Schemes relating exclusively
to R&D should not be referred to Planning Division and
approval should rest with the Ministry/ Organization concerned.
- Scientists generally are unsuited
to commerce and marketing. Each R&D organizations should
therefore have a Marketing Cell. If this would mean necessary
expansion, the STEDEC could be strengthened to meet the
Marketing needs of all the other organizations. A much closer
interface between STEDEC and R&D organizations would
need to be developed.
- Approval for all trips abroad
including training, workshops, symposia, seminars, etc.,
which are fully foreign funded or where the budget and funds
are both available should be delegated to the Head of R&D
organization and where a number of organizations are involved,
the Secretary of the Ministry/ Division may decide.
- The R&D resources available
in the country presently are spread thinly and there is
a lot of duplication. A concerted effort to consolidate,
reduce duplication and share available resources through
a pooling mechanism/ common workshops should be assigned
priority on the recommendations of the ECNCST.
- To reduce public sector risk
and encourage interface with the Industry, Government should
enter into Joint R&D ventures with the private sector
contributing 30 to 50% of the cost, which may be raised
gradually to 80%.
(iv) Financial
- Grants to R&D organizations
should be non-lapsable. Insistence on the 30thJune deadline
frequently results in irresponsible expenditure and wastage
of funds particularly against releases made at the fag end
of the financial year.
- Within non-development budget
grants the distinction between establishment and non-establishment
should be eliminated. The Head of organizations should have
the complete powers of re-appropriation within the budget.
This would additionally be an incentive to reduce establishment
costs.
- All earnings by R&D Organizations
should be retained by them. Those organizations which do
well by way of generating funds should be rewarded through
the incentive of matching grants equivalent to the amount
earned.
- Releases to R&D organizations
and Universities should be on a six monthly basis or at
a minimum quarterly basis. Monthly releases to R&D organizations
involve them in endless red tap-ism.
- Import of equipment and consumables
for R&D organizations and Universities should be exempted
from levy of Custom duties and other taxes.
TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT AND INDUSTRIALIZATION
Recommendations:
- Technology Development Fund
(TDF), which is already in the pipeline be set up immediately.
- A Technology Venture Capital
Company (TVCC) should be established for providing risk
capital to new industrial projects launched on the basis
of indigenous scientific developments.
- Technology Cluster Centers
be established to provide training, consultancy, products
development and quality improvement testing facilities,
etc. services to support the Small and Medium Enterprises
(SMEs) in the fields such as; (i) Surgical goods, (ii) Fans,
(iii) Industrial electronics, (iv) Leather goods, (v) Linen
and garments, etc.
- Modern Industrial Parks to
promote triangular linkage among Government, Industry and
Research for technology development be established along
potential Universities/Institutes.
- Various technologies shall
be developed and commercialized on contract basis in National
Technology Priority areas, viz (i) Manufacturing Engineering
(ii) Chemicals-based manufacturing including cement, sugar,
paper and pharmaceutical, (iii) Biotechnology and agro-based
industries with emphasis on utilization of agricultural
wastes, (iv) Textiles with particular emphasis on fabrication
of textile machinery, (v) Leather manufacturing, (vi) Minerals,
Metallurgy and Materials-based Industries, (vii) Coal, Solar,
Wind and Hydro-energy, (viii) Electronics, Information and
Communications, (ix) Engineering Goods, (x) Environment,
(xi) Health Technologies, (xii) Space Technology, (xiii)
Transportation Technology, (xiv) Fan Machinery, (xv) Marine
Technology , (xvi) Conventional and Computerized Manufacturing
Technologies, (xvii) Automobile Technology.
- The Metrology , Standards,
Testing and Quality (MSTQ) infrastructure should be established
through operationalization of NAC; strengthening of Pakistan
Standard and Quality Institute, National Physical Standard
Laboratory and National Quality Assurance Council and launching
quality awareness raising progran1s.
- Industrial analytical centers
should be established at ten existing R&D Institutions
of Pakistan. These should include centers in the fields
of textiles, pharmaceuticals chemicals, leather, agriculture,
poultry and livestock, agro-chemicals, mining and oil exploration,
and high technologies.
- Pakistan Scientific and Technological
Information Centre (PASTIC) be strengthened to establish
Technology Data-base service for nationwide dissemination
of Industrial and Technical information.
STRENGTHENING OF POLICY, COORDINATION AND MANAGEMENT
STRUCTURE
Recommendations:
- The Minister for Science and
Technology be given representation in ECC and ECNEC.
- The MoST be strengthened to
play its due role as a focal point for processing, finding
and monitoring of S&T development projects and coordinating
with other concerned Federal Ministries and Provincial S&T
Departments.
- The PCST be strengthened
to perform its functions of the Secretariat to NCST and
ECNCST effectively.
- Departments of Science &
Technology and Science and Technology Councils be established
in all the Provinces of Pakistan to promote S&T effort
in the Provinces in an organized manner and coordinate it
with such effort at the national level. Each Province be
provided some financial assistance annually to strengthen
its system and provide critical inputs in important S&T
programmes through an Experts Committee.
INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY
Recommenndations:
1. HUMAN RESOURCE
DEVELOPMENT
- Ph.D/ Masters/ Bachelor/ Intermediate
programmes in Information Technology be launched in local
and foreign universities of repute.
- Distance Learning Centers
be established in 10 cities of Pakistan and IT courses be
offered in remote areas and other towns and cities of Pakistan
through distance learning using the existing facilities
of Allama Iqbal Open University, Pakistan Television, etc.
- Retraining Centers of IT
for unemployed or under-employed engineers, scientists and
other professionals be set up, country wide.
- Specialized Training Centers
for training of Trainers be set up in 4 -5 major cities
and spread in other cities of Pakistan.
- Internet and Internet infrastructure
be provided to all universities of Pakistan and later to
colleges and R&D organizations in the public sector.
- A Scholarships/ Qarz-e-Hasna
Scheme be launched at both undergraduate and post-graduate
levels for bright students for studying Computer Sciences,
Electrical and Electronics Engineering.
- Computer literacy (Computers,
Networks, Software, training) be promoted at school level
throughout Pakistan to let IT education seep down to children.
- National Testing Agency be
established for standardized testing and certification of
IT professionals.
- Four Information Technology
Institutes (ITIs) be set up one each in Punjab, Sindh, NWFP
and Balochistan in selected Universities.
- A Scheme for introduction
to other segments of Information Technology (Tele-Medicine-Health,
Large Data base creation, GIS projects for mapping) be launched.
- A Scheme for retraining government
employees in Software purchases, allowances, etc. be launched.
2. DEVELOPMENT OF ENABLING INFRASTRUCTURE
- Software technology parks
be established in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad in first
phase and later in all major cities of Pakistan.
- Data Network Centers be established
in Karachi, Lahore as in Islamabad, where the current operation
be expanded and at least 10 major cities in phase.
- Community Internet Centers
be setup in various cities of Pakistan and gradually to
District and Tehsil level to bring IT facilities and training
to the people at grass root level.
3. MARKETING SUPPORT FOR PAKISTANI
SOFTWARE COMPANIES
- Series of IT seminars may
be conducted country-wide to raise awareness and create
interest in students and business community so that IT can
become a mainstream in the country.
- Participation in major international
IT trade fairs, holding IT conferences overseas and IT trade
shows in Pakistan be supported to promote IT experts.
- Overseas marketing offices
be established in strategic locations like Singapore, Silicon
Valley USA etc.
- A scheme for the development
of SW in urdu and regional languages be launched.
- A scheme for triggering off
local data entry and blue collar IT activity be launched.
4. REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
- A venture capital Seed fund
with public-private partnership be established to promote
IT related industry in the country.
- A Fund for development and
production of IT and communication products be created to
boost electrical and IT related Hardware manufacture industry
in Pakistan. etc. be established.
- E-Commerce pilot project
for facilitation, training and core infrastructure be launched.
- E-Government pilot projects
at two ministries and at the office of the Chief Executive
of Pakistan be launched.
- Legislation drafting for
IT related issues be undertaken.
Third Meeting of NCST
The 3rd meeting of NCST was held
on 1st December 2001,under the Chairmanship of Gen.Pervez
Musharraf, the Chief Executive and President of Pakistan.
In this meeting, NCST not only reviewed various programmes
initiated under the decisions taken in the 2nd meeting, but
also considered and approved the following agenda items:
S&T Initiatives
Telecommunications &
IT Initiatives
- Pakistan Satellite (PAKSAT)
- Development of Critical Telecommunications
Infrastructure
- Government Telecommunication
Backbone Optical Fiber Infrastructure.
- Undersea Optical Fiber Second
Route to connect to International Cables.
- Government Intranet and Communications
(Local and Wide Area Networks).
- Satellite Hub for Strategic,
Rapid Deployable Civilian Government Voice and Data Communications.
- Frequency Spectrum Management
- E-Government Programmes for
Pakistan
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