A parliamentary panel on Monday expressed serious concerns over the dismal affairs at the Ministry of Science and Technology, developing heart stent locally at a cost of Rs 10,000 to help general public, which cannot afford imported stent costing Rs 100,000, but due to paucity of funds the project hangs in the balance.
The Ministry has submitted PC-1 of 25 projects but not a single project was approved, revealed Secretary Ministry of Science and Technology Kamran Ali Qureshi while briefing the National Assembly Standing Committee. The committee met with Tariq Bashir Cheema in the chair and it was briefed over the function/performance of National Institute of Electronics (NIE).
The Committee endorsed the professional expertise of NIE and observed that the organisation can contribute to the filed of Electronics, subject to availability of adequate funds. To initiate new projects in their respective fields, the committee recommended that sufficient funds be allocated for Research and Development. The committee also directed the Ministry to approach Ministers for Finance and Planning Development & Reforms for increment in their budget so that they could perform in a better way.
Earlier, Secretary Ministry of Science and Technology, Kamran Ali Qureshi and Director General NIE Basharat Mehmood briefed the committee on its functions and performance and also highlighted the problems being faced by the organisation. Federal Minister for Science and Technology Rana Tanveer Hussain informed the committee that Pakistan spends 0.2 percent of its GDP on this sector, which is considered being key in developed countries. He said that the Prime Minister was appraised in a cabinet meeting to shut the ministry if it is established only for giving salaries. The performance of the attached departments is also not quite up to the mark and they have been directed to present three demands oriented projects.
The DG urged the committee to recommend the government for 17 percent GST waiver on the import of electronic products and equipments as it results into increasing products price. He further said that the institution is facing challenges in retaining its technical manpower due to low pay/incentives as compared in other countries/organisations. The institution had 14 Phds and 40 MS (foreign qualified) officials which reduced to only one by now. Further delay in release of funds increases project cost manifold, the DG added.
The officials further informed that a Pakistani delegation headed by the federal minister visited China-South Asia Technology Transfer Center, and signed different agreements for technology transfer & collaborative innovation. In follow up of this visit NIE signed a contract agreement for production of batteries at NIE. These batteries will have more warrantee, low cost and good quality. The DG further said that for installation of solar water pumps (site selected) and feasibility report of 30,000 pumps is under process. In fiscal year 2015-16 the government will launch the installation of 10,000 solar water pumps. This task may be assigned to NIE with bifurcation of 5000 in each slot.