LAHORE: The Science and Technology Ministry is going to be restructured to expedite industrial development in the country, said Federal Education, Science and Technology Minister Shams Kassim Lakha. ile speaking at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) on Monday. LCCI
The minister expressed these views wh president Muhammad Ali Mian and vice president Shafqat Saeed Piracha also spoke on the issues that demanded the government’s attention.
Lakha praised the LCCI’s efforts to promote science and technology and said the ministry would welcome all proposals forwarded by the chamber. He said due to the lack of a research culture, the country’s economy was suffering. “Realising this fact, the government has already doubled its budgetary allocations for education and health sectors,” he said, adding that the action plan being finalised would focus on import substitution industrialisation so that imported goods could be replaced with locally produced goods. Talking to Daily Times, he said the three sectors – universities, Education Ministry and industry – worked together for the development of the country. “Public universities should now focus on research,” he said, adding that it was a good move by public universities to start four-year undergraduate classes.
About the ongoing energy crisis, he said the government was giving a special attention to renewable energy projects in collaboration with the private sector. The minister also praised the Agha Khan University Board for its efforts to promote quality education in the country.
Ismailimail 