Islamabad: In the Second week of September, a parliamentary committee recommended to the government to allocate 2-4 percent of the GDP for science and technology. The Senate Standing Committee on Science and Technology met under the chairmanship of Senator Mushtaq Ahmad. They decided to prepare a viable plan in this connection based on the recommendations sought from members of the committee, experts and stakeholders to bring reforms in different departments working under Ministry of Science and Technology. The meeting was attended by Senators Muhammad Azam Khan Swati, Gianchand, Faisal Javed, Nuzhat Sadiq and Syed Muhammad Sabir Shah and others.
Total GDP of the country for the year 2017-18 was Rs 34,576.1 billion (as per Economic Survey of Pakistan). Two percent of GDP means Rs 691.52 billion and 4% amounts to Rs 1,383.04 billion. While the budget allotted to the Ministry of Science and Technology for the year 2017-18 was Rs 8.821 billion and for the year 2018-19 the budget allocated is Rs 10.543 billion.
Mushtaq Ahmad asked the committee to visit all the departments of the ministry one by one, receive briefing from the heads about the problems impeding the development of the department and then prepare a summary which will then be presented to the Prime Minister for approval.. He observed that science and technology departments faced neglect during the last many years and revitalization of these departments has to be done as soon as possible if we want to progress and compete internationally.
