Advancement of S&T stressed for knowledge-based economy

Islamabad

Science and technology minister Rana Tanveer Hussain on Saturday called for scientific and technological advancements, saying they are imperative for development of a knowledge-based economy.

Addressing a meeting of the Pakistan-China Science and Technology Committee here, the minister said the multi-billion dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project would help further promote Sino-Pak cooperation in science and technology.  He said Pakistan and China had excellent relations and the CPEC project would further boost them besides contributing to the development of the former.

The minister said the government had increased budgetary allocations for research activities as part of efforts to promote science and technology in the country.  He said the building of local industries and development of human resource was imperative in light of the establishment of industrial zones under the CPEC project.

The minister said the corridor project had necessitated the strengthening of linkages between academia and industries for which universities were being revitalised to serve as the breeding grounds for innovative ideas in scientific and industrial technology.