The European Union (EU) special market access package to Pakistan will help increase exports to the EU and meet the country's needs against flood disaster and revival of economy. Federal minister for Science & Technology Mir Changez Khan Jamali said this during his meeting with the Italian Ambassador to Pakistan Vincenzo Prati, who called on him on Friday.
The minister hoped that the special market access package would get endorsement from the Governing Council of EU. During the meeting, they reiterated that co-operation between the two countries in the field of science and technology might be strengthened as an agreement in this regard was signed in 1975. The Italian side proposed to formulate a fresh Executive Programme of Co-operation for 2012-14, by launching a call for proposals of Joint Research Projects.
This will require follow-up and actions by sides to work for a joint selection procedure for the Research Development projects submitted to both sides. Jamali also expressed gratitude to the European Union for their support to Pakistan National Accreditation Council (PNAC) and other departments through its Trade Related Technical Assistance (TRTA) programme, which fully recognises the need to improve compliance of export product through improving Conformity Assessment and Infrastructure and Services.
"We are facing energy crises and it will be redressed due to the development in the field of Science and Technology and by the mutual assistance of the developed countries. Italy is an important country in the European Union and its help in the field of education, energy development, west management, water resource management, biotechnology and nano-technology will be very helpful", he added.
It was decided in the meeting that experts of the two sides will identify existing and future areas of co-operation and chalk out a purposeful programme with mutual consultation. The ambassador invited the minister to visit Italy for mutual co-operation and strengthening bilateral relationship in the field of science and technology and cementing areas of ongoing co-operation.
Officers of the Ministry of Science and Technology and the heads of various attached departments like the Director General of PNAC Anjum Bashir, Chairman PCSIR, Dr Shaukat Pervaiz, DG, PCRET, Director NUST, Muhammad Ismail, Chairman PCRWR Dr Aslam Tahir were also present at the occasion.
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