ISLAMABAD: Minister for Science and Technology Rana Tanveer Hussain Tuesday informed the Senate that government would establish a campus of COMSATS University in Quetta to facilitate the people of area.
During question-hour in the House, the minister said that the government was making all out efforts for Research and Development (R&D) in the country and economy would not progress without promoting R&D.
Rana Tanveer said that Global Innovation Index Report 2015 indicated Pakistan's ranking in R&D as 68th out of 141 countries that was jointly released by Johnson Cornell University, WIPO & INSEAD.
The present government had taken several steps for developing science and technology in the country including introduction of National Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Strategy 2014-18, he added.
The minister said that in the ST1 strategy, national R&D expenditure would be enhanced up to 1 percent of GDP by 2018 for building capacity and Human Resource Development in Science and Technology Sector.
He said that Technology Foresight Studies in the 11 areas have been conducted by Ministry of Science and Technology and disseminated among the stakeholders.
Rana Tanveer said the National Research Agenda had priority areas and under each priority area, a number of focus areas of research had been identified.
The minister said that work was in progress in consultation with Higher Education Commission (HEC) to update the National Research Agenda in line with Pakistan Vision 2025 document of the Government.
He said that to encourage scientists, researchers and technologists categories of awards including
Civil Awards in the category of Science and Technology, President's Medal for Technology and Research Productivity Award had been announced by the government.
He sadi in the present age, investment in R&D was very crucial for socio-economic development of any country adding realizing this, the government was making efforts to increase its allocations.
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