Pakistan Council for Science & Technology (PCST) grants Research Productivity Award to active scientists on the basis of their publications in international Journals and their performance, as evaluated empirically by Journal Impact Factors, Citations and Peer Review. Every year PCST actively collect relevant data and comprehensively compiles it to determine the eligibility of award beneficiaries maintaining eloquent transparency.

PCST hosted annual “Research Productivity Award” ceremony on 16th May, 2012 at Marriott Hotel, Islamabad to distribute certificates and cash awards to 56 leading researchers. Honorable Prime Minister of Pakistan Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani was chief guest of the ceremony. Federal Minister for Science and Technology Mr. Changez Khan Jamali, Minister of State for Science and Technology Ms. Rahela Shahdat Baloch and many other honorable Ministers and State Ministers were also present on the occasion.

The honourable Prime Minister in his address appreciated PCST’s endeavor of encouraging scientists and researchers through the Research Productivity Award which being one of main contributor of significant growth in number of research publication by Pakistani researchers. He also highlighted importance of indigenous research and development in the economy. He hoped that these types of initiatives by the government would help minimize the brain drain.

Speaking on the occasion, the honourable Minister for Science and Technology said that government is striving hard to be prepared to meet the scientific and technological challenges of the 21st Century and bring progress and prosperity in the lives of the people. He said that Research Productivity Award is one of key initiative of the government and MoST to foster innovative and far-reaching developments in the fields of science and technology. The key objectives of this award are to promote quality research in the country, increase the number of research publications from Pakistan in reputed international journals, attract younger scientists towards research careers and to check brain drain.

Prof. Dr Mudassir Asrar, Chairperson PCST expressed that the RPA scheme is achieving its main objective of increasing the number of research papers published internationally from Pakistan. This number has already shown more than five-fold increase since the introduction of the scheme and the rising trend is continuing. The scheme should, therefore, be continued, as it is good for the promotion and internationalization of Pakistan science. She said taht provision of RPA along with other incentives will definitely slow down the pace of movement of Pakistan scientists and engineers abroad. The award in prestigious in nature and the researchers are recognized at the national level and on the basis of award they find better job opportunities inside the country. Further on the basis of this award researcher can compete for research grant at the national level and internationally

In the end Chairperson PCST thanked the prime minister who spent some time with the scientists community and hope that it will definitely encouraged them to do more in terms of R&D. She also thanked Minister of S&T and Secretary, MoST for their continuous support and assistance.