Govt urged to focus on processing raw minerals domestically

Islamabad

Vice chancellors of public sector universities and industry representatives from Balochistan stressed the need to focus on processing the raw minerals domestically to achieve maximum gains out of it.

The issue was discussed extensively at a meeting organised by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) on University-Industry Linkages at Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences.

The meeting, chaired by Executive Director Dr. Arshad Ali, was attended by all Vice Chancellors of public sector universities in the province, Directors of the Offices of Research, Innovation and Commercialization (ORICs), Director General, Geological Survey of Pakistan, Additional Secretary and Director Mines and Mineral Department, Government of Balochistan, Deputy Director Industries, Government of Balochistan, representative of Provincial Higher Education Department, Manager, Gem and Jewellery Department as well as representatives of Chaman Chamber of Commerce, Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Lasbela Chamber of Commerce.

Underlining the significance of University-Industry linkages, Dr. Arshad Ali said that planned collaboration among both the sectors is need of the time. He stated that in Balochsitan, around 13 different minerals are being extracted and all of them are exported in raw form without domestic processing. He added that extracting a mineral and exporting it in raw form requires 80 percent investment and the profit is only 20 percent whereas transforming a raw mineral into finished product requires 20 percent investment and profit is 80 percent.

“We should focus on processing the raw material domestically to achieve maximum gains out of it.  Balochistan has precious stones and this industry needs to be flourished
with the help of universities,” said the Executive Director.

Industrialists and businessmen also shared their views on the occasion. They said Balochistan is famous for extractive metallurgy like blister, chromite, stones and coal, copper, etc. which is exported to other countries.  They maintained that if the process is facilitated locally to convert the ore to finished product it will help the local investor to grab the major chunk of profit and will also contribute to GDP of the country.

The Chambers of Commerce were advised that processing raw material to final product may be started at medium scale rather than investing heavily in the beginning. The Chambers appreciated efforts of HEC to organize the meeting, and assured their complete support to the universities. The businessmen and industrialists stated that they can make arrangements to train and provide internship opportunities to the university students.

The representative of Lasbela Chamber of Commerce said that 75 per cent revenue of Balochistan is from Lasbela industries.  He suggested that final year students may be sent to the industry for training.

In his concluding remarks, the Executive Director urged the universities to benefit from various HEC initiatives like Technology Development Fund, National Research Programme for Universities and University Industry Technology Support Programme. He assured them that HEC will fund projects if presented under any one of these programmes.

He also emphasized that universities should send maximum number of students to industry for internship. The executive director, HEC, said that such meetings will be held on a regular basis.