Pakistan Association of Automotive Parts and Accessories Manufacturers (PAAPAM) Senior Vice Chairman Mumshad Ali has stressed upon the need for creating a strong liaison between educational institutions, widely recognised as major contributors to economic development, and the industry that requires the skills and knowledge to increase productivity.
He stated this during a signing ceremony of MoU with the University of Management Technology (UMT), Lahore. The purpose is to create a framework of co-operation between the association and the university to collaborate on designing, selection and implementation of various programmes which will assist members of the association to upgrade their technical know-how and enter into different markets with their products. PAAPAM office-bearers said researchers' collaboration with local industry would improve the product and processes leading to decreased import of raw material and increased export of the finished products.
PAAPAM Senior Vice Chairman Ali said, "Pakistan's private sector comprises many technology-based industries. For them research is like blood in the veins without which they cannot possibly survive in the current global environment, where industries would endure on the bases of competitive edge. This scenario makes the research imperative for the industrial development to face the upcoming global challenges. Therefore, generating closer linkages between the public sector and the higher education institutions is the need of the hour."
He said that long-term business relationship between research institutions and industries could be developed providing the government and the private stakeholders to play their due role in this respect. The government can help institutionalise the linkages by upgrading of the faculties in relevant institutions and provide them with suitable funding for equipping the laboratories and libraries.