PCST demands one percent of GDP allocation for R&D

Pakistan Council for Science and Technology (PCST) Chairperson Dr Mudasser Asrar demanded the government to allocate at least one percent of gross domestic product for research and development (R&D) activities whereas currently, only 0.3 percent of GDP is being spent on R&D.
She was addressing the participants of research proposal competition arranged by Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialisation (ORIC), University of Agriculture Faisalabad. The event was chaired by UAF Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan. Quoting the example of Japan, the PCST Chairperson said that Japan is spending 5 per cent of GDP on R&D activities. Talking about research budget in Pakistan, she said the research budget had been slashed 100 per cent. It was Rs 2 billion two-year ago, which is now Rs one billion.
Talking about PCST, she said that PCST is mandated to advise the government on the development of science and technology at the national level. The council is involved in S&T Policy making, planning, implementation and in carrying out policy studies. She said that the council is aimed at advising the government on S&T policy and plans. It is regular evaluation of scientific research through peer review techniques. She said that it is a matter of pride that the UAF has emerged top ranked university of the country.
She said active participation of women in science and technology is vital to make the development. She said PCST is taking all out efforts to ensure the participation of women in scientific activities and to improve visibility of women scientists by maintaining a website and starting a project on collecting data on statistics of women representation in S & T.
Professor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan said that the University completive grant portfolio has jacked to five fold in the five year. It has exceeded to Rs 2 billion, which was only Rs 400 million five year ago. He was of the view that the research culture must be strengthened and flourishes in the country in order to compete with the rest of the world.
He said that the UAF is taking all measures to promote the research culture. He said that the UAF is offering as many as 159 degree programme in the different discipline. UNIDO national programme co-ordinator Muhammad Matloob said Global Cleantech Programme is running in 6 countries including Pakistan, it is aimed at developing a sustainable ecosystem and entrepreneurship to achieve sustainable success. ORIC Director Professor Dr Asif Ali urged the participants to develop the innovative approaches.