Engineering Post Report
Federal Ministry of Science and Technology was allocated Rs 4458 million under the Public Sector Development Programme (PDSP) 2020-21 for continuing implementation and execution in a phased manner of 25 ongoing projects and another 7 projects which had been recommended by the Prime Minister’s Task Force on Science & Technology.
Against this allocation, Rs 340.678 million were released and reported to have been fully utilized. Out of the projects, mentioned above, as many as 08 projects should have been completed or attained near completion status by June 2021.
During 2020-21, the major initiatives in Science and Technology sector included capacity building and Resource Development (HRD) and up-gradation of overall Research and Development (R& D) infrastructure of laboratories/ facilities.
Establishment of Precision Systems Training Centre and OCSIR Laboratories at Gwadar , Balochistan, were underway. Up-gradation of Polymers and Plastics Laboratory at PCSIR Laboratories Complex,Lahore have also been purchased.
Industry focused Research and Development (R& D) was the major focus at Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) with a network of 17 research laboratories/units including 06 training institutes located all over the country.
In accordance with the directions of the Federal Cabinet, PCSIR has prepared and submitted a proposal for use of poppy for medicinal purposes..
Ministry of Science and Technology has also forwarded a list of 14 chemicals to PCSIR with directions to see possibility of producing these chemicals locally to save huge import cost. Trade-related interventions are also being undertaken through Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA), Pakistan National Accreditation Council (PNAC) and National Physical and Standards Laboratory (NPSL).
PNAC, according to information available from the official quarters concerned, has granted accreditation to many laboratories and agencies.
In the Nano Technology sector, a project called Establishment for Industrial Production of Nanomaterials in Latif Ebrahim Jamal Nanotechnology Centre was being undertaken and a building of Nano-technology Centre was fully functional.
