Skilled manpower, research stressed for prosperity

LAHORE: Not mere material development and mineral resources but higher education and research in science & technology, and skilled manpower ensure prosperity of nations. It is not through construction of roads, bridges and high-rise buildings but by ensuring due resources for basic needs, higher education and research can bring Pakistan out of political, economic and social crises.

This was the consensus of noted economists and speakers at a pre-budget seminar held at Minhaj University chaired by Deputy Chairman of Board of Governors Dr Hussain Mohi-Ud-Din Qadri. Noted among them were former Finance Secretary Dr Waqar Masood, Economist Dr Pervaiz Tahir, former Deputy Chairman FBR Dr Nadeem Ul Haq, PPP leaders Naveed Ch, Barrister Amer Hassan, Economist Dr Faheem and Mian Imran Masood.

They said ratio of Pakistani skilled manpower was about 4 to 6 percent, whereas in Germany this ratio was 76 percent, in Korea, Hungry, Finland, China and Japan this ratio was 100 percent. Even in developing countries this ratio was around 66 percent. They said in Pakistan only 2.2 percent budget is allocated for education; no specific allocation is made for technical education. Addressing the seminar, D Hussain Mohi-Ud-Din said for development of education sector ‘we would have to invest in teacher. Education can be promoted through highly educated and trained teachers not well-constructed and decorated buildings.’ He said it is matter of concern that Harvard University 151, Colombia University 101, Cambridge University 94, Chicago University have 89 professors who are Nobel Laureates, but in this context there is complete darkness in Pakistan and Muslim world. He said Royal Society London was established in 1660, more than 8 thousand professors and scientists are members of this society, and only four members belong to Muslim world.

In Punjab there are 11 Education Boards, but only one Technical Education Board. In 2002 budget for Science and Technology was over 6 billion, now this has been reduced to 2 billion, and this is not shortsighted but criminal negligence.

Dr Pervaiz Tahir while commenting on the Pre-Budget Seminar expressed that in fact the governments to run their own political shows coin out the budget and then take loans to implement their so-called policies in their own interest. He added that CPEC is a healthy project, but its process of completion is sluggish.

Dr Waqar Masood stressed that the present government must not present the budget as their tenure is near to end. He added to this end that there stands no guarantee that the newly formulated elected government would accept the budget of the present government which is already near to downfall.

Khurram Nawaz Gandapur stated that CPEC project is built only own loans. He suggested that the Pakistani experts/economists, who are in the process of negotiation on various projects with China, must opt for the taskforce.

Dr Mughees Shaukat spotlighted that due to degrading economic policies and malfunctioning of the present government, the IMF and world financial organisation have strong reservation about the deteriorating economy of Pakistan.

Naveed Ch said Amnesty Scheme is just fudge. He added that the loans are taken with the aim of nepotism and favoritism. Barrister Amir Hassan said that it is a matter of agony that the downtrodden is humiliated at the hands of so-called tycoons and filthy rich. Dr Saeed-a-Shaykh emphasised that it is need of the hour to eradicate gap between the government and the public. The government policies should be in coherence to each other. We must ascertain our directions on priority basis. We ought to make such policies that IMF must be hard bound to provide their assistance and help rather than dashing out a dole for help. Dr Nadeem-ul-Haq said budget is a highly sensitive issue which directly pertains to the well-being of the nation. It should be dealt in a professional manner by the seasoned economists rather than the politicians in the assembly. To support his argument, he said in America the budget remains under discussion throughout the year.