I, the government's awareness of science and technology, science and technology investment, science and technology status
In recent years, with the improvement of Pakistan's economy, science and technology in Pakistan has gradually been attached importance to the government's awareness of science and technology has been strengthened, the status of science and technology has been improved. It is mainly embodied in the following three aspects:
1. The Pakistani government has substantially increased investment in science and technology over the years. 2004-2005 Pakistan Ministry of Science and Technology's science and technology administrative funds, public **** R & D funds and science and technology funds, the total budget of 1,076 million rupees (1 U.S. dollar equivalent to about 60 rupees), 1,706 million rupees and 2,782 million rupees. 2005. Rs. 2,782 million. The budgets for 2005-2006 have been increased by Rs. 1,533 million, Rs. 3,825 million and Rs. 5,358 million, which is an increase of 42%, 124% and 93%, respectively, and the budgets for 2006-2007 have been adjusted to Rs. 1,469 million, Rs. 5,499 million and Rs. 6,990 million, Rs. 5,499 million and Rs. 6,968 million, which is -4.2%, 44% and 30% respectively.
2. The Government of Pakistan has come out with its Vision 2030 report, which clearly states that science and technology is the center of creation of core competencies of the country. in August 2007, the Government of Pakistan has come out with its Vision 2030 report, which sets out that by 2030, Pakistan's agriculture will be able to provide adequate food and nutrition; the economy will be dominated by the development of high end manufacturing and service sectors; and per capita income will reach the development goal of $4,000. The report has spelled out the future focus areas of the country and the roadmap for achieving this goal, stating that the tools for achieving this goal will be knowledge, technology and skills, and that Pakistan will rely on the development of human resources and the creation of the necessary infrastructural and technological infrastructure to achieve a high rate of sustainable growth in the country's economy.
In Pakistani President Musharraf's article on the report, there is a passage that reflects the Pakistani government's science and technology consciousness. He said, "The Vision 2030 report presents a clear blueprint for the future of the country and the challenges it will face from water, energy, infrastructure, climate change, world trade and markets. I believe: we have the ability to turn these challenges into opportunities. Knowledge and invention are the key drivers of future national progress. Science and technology are at the center of the creation of the nation's core competencies; they provide needed skills; they increase productivity in agriculture, industry, and the service sector."
3. Strengthened industrial science and technology and improved innovation environment. In recent years, the Pakistani government has formulated and introduced a number of incentives for research and development in the IT, renewable energy, and textile industries to improve the innovation environment for industrial development. Here is particularly worth mentioning Pakistan's textile industry.
Pakistan is the world's fourth largest textile exporter. The textile industry is the backbone of Pakistan's economy. It accounts for 24% of the manufacturing sector's output, absorbs 38% of its employment, and its exports account for almost 70% of the country's total exports. However, in recent years, Pakistan's textile industry is experiencing the most difficult period, facing the lack of research and development, low technology content, shortage of human resources, low quality standards, low value-added products and over-reliance on cotton and other aspects of the problem.
In order to improve the international competitiveness of the textile industry, the Pakistani government has introduced policies, improved regulations and encouraged private enterprises to invest in improving skills and developing human resources; and strengthened the existing scientific research institutes and set up new scientific research institutes to promote research and development and technological upgrading of the industry. From 2005, the Pakistani government began to launch the textile industry's research and development tax subsidy policy. Textile and apparel companies enjoy a 6% tax deduction for R&D subsidies. The Pakistani government began to use tax leverage to promote technological progress of enterprises and revitalize the textile industry.
Second, the integration of scientific and technological resources, the introduction of major projects, a number of scientific and technological achievements
2007 is the eighth year of President Musharraf's administration, but also the last year of the term of office of the previous government. 2007 November, Pakistan's Minister of Science and Technology, Mr. Chowdhury? Nurez? In November 2007, Pakistan's Minister for Science and Technology, Mr. Chaudhry Nurez Shakur Khan was due to leave office. During his tenure, he focused on: first, building Pakistan's technological competitiveness in the 21st century by developing highly qualified scientific and technological human resources and creating a larger scientific and technological talent pool to reverse the scientific and technological brain drain; second, consolidating and upgrading the scientific and technological infrastructure and strengthening the scientific research institutes; third, implementing economically oriented research programs; fourth, promoting quality consciousness; and, fifth, developing and importing technologies to support the country's economic development. The major scientific and technological achievements of Pakistan during the 2004-2007 tenure include:
Successful breeding of BT transgenic insect-resistant cotton seeds;
Successful breeding of virus-free potatoes and virus-free gladiolus;
Successful cloning of human interferon gene for therapeutic use;
Installation of a new plant with a total installed capacity of 900 kilowatts (kW) and a new plant with a total installed capacity of 1,000 kW. installed capacity of 900 kilowatts to provide electricity to 9,000 households in remote areas;
Successful development of technology for hatching of prawn eggs;
Survey of Outer Continental Shelf of Pakistan's oceans in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea;
Development and construction of successful rainwater harvesting and storage systems in desert areas;
Successful demonstration of rice sprinkler irrigation for rice planting;
Successful demonstration of rice sprinkler irrigation for rice Successful demonstration of paddy rice sprinkler irrigation;
Pakistan Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) has established the Pakistan Institute of Minerals and Advanced Engineering Materials (PIMAM) to provide technical and consultancy services to the national industry;
Pakistan Water Resources Research Council (PWRRC) has provided testing services to more than 70,000 water samples;
Pakistan Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) and PWRRC laboratories are ISO 1705 accredited;
Technical training in the fields of precision mechanics, electronics, biotechnology and instrumentation;
Successful development of Pakistan's first hybrid maize variety, FH-421;
Successful development of two new varieties of Basmati rice.
The budget of the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) for public **** Research and Development (R&D) projects for the year 2006-2007 has been increased by 44 per cent to Rs. 5,499 million to fund more than 100 R&D projects under implementation or to be implemented, out of which, the highlights are:
Strengthening of financial support to various laboratories of the Ministry of Science and Technology for their modernization and revitalization;
establishment of pilot plants for indigenously developed products for all units of MOST;
establishment of production line for solar panels;
equipping of multidisciplinary oceanographic survey and research vessel for survey of biotic and abiotic resources in the economic zone of Pakistan's Maritime Specialized Authority (MSA);
independent development of large electronic display panels;
upgrading of Gwadar Experimental Station of the National Institute of Oceanography (NIOM) of Pakistan; and Research Institute's Gwadar Experimental Station upgradation;
Establishment of Daska Metal Casting Technology Center;
Precision Machinery Training Centers in Peshawar and Gwadar;
Enhancement of research and development capacity of research institutes of the Ministry of Science and Technology of Pakistan through implementation of 400 Ph.D. Study Abroad Program in Engineering and Science;
Establishment of Science Museums in major cities of Pakistan to popularize science and technology.
In addition, in 2007, Pakistan launched a two-year pilot program on drip irrigation systems. The cost of the program is about 310 million rupees (about 5,300 U.S. dollars). The program focuses on localization of drip irrigation technology, sustainable use of alkaline groundwater in various agro-climatic zones, more efficient use of resources and increased efficiency of agricultural production.
Pakistan's Nuclear Institute of Agriculture and Biotechnology (NIAB) is the lead contractor for the project, which is located across Pakistan's Pongchap, Sindh, Balochistan, North-West Frontier Province (NWFP), Northern Areas (NA), and Pakistan-administered Kashmir (PAK). The total area of the drip irrigation project is 1000 acres of which 40 percent is in Punjab, 20 percent in Balochistan, 20 percent in Sindh, 10 percent in NWFP and 10 percent in other areas.
Three, the IT industry has emerged as the fastest growing industry
Seven years ago, Pakistan's IT industry was almost zero. Since then, the IT industry continued to grow rapidly, the development rate in recent years has been maintained at about 50%, a leap into Pakistan's fastest-growing industry. 2000-2003 software exports amounted to 33 million U.S. dollars in 2005-2006 amounted to 72 million U.S. dollars. 2006-2007, according to the State Bank of Pakistan report statistics. In 2007, according to the State Bank of Pakistan report statistics, IT industry exports amounted to 116 million U.S. dollars, an increase of 61.18% over the previous year, exceeding the planned target of 108 million U.S. dollars. 2007, Pakistan's IT industry employees amounted to 120,000, with an annual increase of 20,000, the ISO qualification and CMMI-related IT companies 125.
The development of the IT industry has attracted the attention of the Pakistani government. Ministry of Information Industry to formulate plans to determine the export target of the IT industry is $ 10 billion. And take measures: focus on the development of human resources; the establishment of a special fund to improve the financial situation; improve the soft image of the industrial environment; improve infrastructure, the establishment of software parks.
The plan is to start the launch of three IT industry parks costing $200 million in Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore in April 2007 to attract foreign investment in this new industry.
In terms of communications, in 2007, the number of mobile and fixed-line telephones had reached 30 million. Cell phones are increasing by about 1.5 million per month Broadband has increased from 800MB in 2003 to 2,500MB at present. 1,900 towns and cities are connected to the Internet and there are 132 Internet operators. Currently, there is one personal computer for every 100 people in Pakistan. In the next three years, the amount of new TV is expected to increase four to five times.
Fourth, the implementation of science and technology programs, science education is further strengthened
Pakistan is a country with a large number of illiterate people. Popularization of cultural, scientific and technological knowledge is very important and has a long way to go. In recent years, the Government of Pakistan has initiated several popular enrichment programs.
At the university level, the government has initiated a science center program with a plan to establish 15 science centers. Currently, the first science center has been built in the city of Faisalaba. The center displays knowledge of natural history, biology, chemistry, physics, geology, and computer science, especially science that is relevant to daily life. The exhibits are aimed at students and the general public.
In secondary schools, especially distributed in rural schools. The government of Pakistan launched the Science Club program. It is planned to establish science clubs in 500 schools across the country. Soap making, recycling of waste paper and solar oven preparation are the themes of the first phase. Through the program, Science Foundation of Pakistan is providing well-prepared knowledge and information to these clubs to develop students' interest and skills in science.
In remote rural areas, the Government of Pakistan has launched the "Science and Technology Trolley Program". Through the science and technology caravan science fairs will be science exhibitions to schools caravan science fairs include: lasers, medical advances, space exploration, renewable energy, Pakistan's mineral deposits, medicinal and poisonous plants; the form of panels, mechanical models, three-dimensional models, computers, microscopes, movies and slides, and so on. Currently, the Tabernacle Car Science Exhibition has been displayed in 427 schools in rural areas and more than 100,000 students have visited the exhibition.
In addition, in March 2007, Pakistan Science and Technology Fair 2007 was organized. The theme of the fair was "Imagine the Future" and it was held for one month to raise awareness about science and technology among the people. 20 national scientific institutions participated in the fair. More than 20 national research organizations participated in the fair and the exhibitors presented their research findings to the public. The exhibition will enable the Pakistani public, especially the youth, to understand the scientific and technological achievements of Pakistan since the establishment of the country and to popularize scientific and technological knowledge. The fair also provides a platform for interaction and cooperation between researchers and program and policy makers. It promotes commercialization and industrialization of research results.
V. International Cooperation Further Strengthened to Win Technology and Funds for Pakistan
Pakistan is a country with a weak innovation capacity. In science and technology, it is heavily dependent on foreign countries. Therefore, international scientific and technological cooperation has always occupied a pivotal position in the scientific and technological work of the Pakistani government, and scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation as well as the introduction of technology is regarded as an important means to improve the scientific and technological capabilities of Pakistan. In the year that is about to pass, Pakistan has been very effective in international cooperation in science and technology.
China is Pakistan's priority partner in science and technology, and in 2007, the country's meteorological director and deputy minister of health led delegations to Pakistan, while the secretary of Pakistan's Ministry of Science and Technology also led two visits to China. China and Pakistan government agencies and scientific research units and enterprises have signed cooperation agreements and memorandums of understanding on meteorological science and technology, surveying and mapping science and technology, marine science and technology, Antarctic scientific research, solar cell manufacturing, Chinese medicine research and other aspects. China-Pakistan cooperation in science and technology has been further strengthened, and the areas of cooperation are expanding.
The U.S. is an important scientific and technological partner of Pakistan, Pakistan's most important source of funds and technology. 2007, Pakistan-U.S. scientific and technological cooperation also continued to develop. The two sides agreed to increase the Science and Technology Cooperation Fund from $3.5 million to $15 million to further strengthen cooperation between Pakistani and U.S. research institutes in the areas of agriculture, biotechnology, chemistry, pharmaceuticals, industrial research, engineering, electronics, material sciences, nanotechnology, standards and metrology, earth sciences, disease surveillance, water quality improvement, biofuels and alternative energy, meteorological sciences, and information technology. The U.S. side will provide assistance in the construction of a synchrotron in Pakistan, further expand the scope of cooperation in technician training, doctoral and post-doctoral programs, and strengthen ties between research institutions.
U.S. Trade and Development Agency USTDA signs agreement with Pakistan's Alternative Energy Development Board AEDB. Under the $1.4 million Pakistan-U.S. energy cooperation framework, the U.S. side will submit a grant of $588,000 to the Pakistani side to support renewable energy generation projects.
Pakistan and Argentina signed an agreement on scientific and technological cooperation between the two countries. The two countries will cooperate in the fields of agricultural biotechnology, marine research, solar energy, electronics, natural products, materials science, scientific and technological infrastructure and human resources.
Pakistan and Chile signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation between the two countries for the first time - a memorandum of understanding on agricultural cooperation. The two sides identified Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) and Chilean Agricultural Innovation Fund (CAIF) as their counterpart research cooperation institutions for cooperation in agricultural research and related fields.