Developing countries cannot make any significant progress unless they incorporate science and technology in their economic plans. This was stated by Federal Minister for Science and Technology Mir Changez Khan Jamali while addressing the ambassadors of COMSATS member states on Thursday. The meeting was held in connection with the forthcoming COMSATS Commission Meeting scheduled to be held on April 16-17 in Islamabad. The COMSATS member states’ science and technology ministers will participate in the meeting.
The federal minister said the present democratic government was trying to transfer the benefits of science and technology to the Pakistani masses by incorporating it in its policies. He stressed the roles of organisations like the COMSATS in this regard.
“We are aware that the COMSATS member states have several common socio-economic problems and most of these problems cannot be solved unless we break the barriers of isolation in science and technology,” the minister said. He that COMSATS had launched international thematic research groups, whereby technological resources are pooled to undertake research on specific topics which are most relevant for socio-economic development.
He said advancements in science and technology were going to be the benchmarks of success in the future. The minister stated that countries in Latin America, Africa and Asia, like Brazil, South Africa and China were attaining power and prosperity through their consistent efforts for technological capacity building.
Jamali added that the Pakistani government will support the COMSATS vision and objectives and will help the institute promote its future activities.
COMSATS Executive Director I E Qureshi briefed the dignitaries about the progress and development of the organisation.
The preparations for the COMSATS ministerial meeting are in progress under the chairmanship of Science and Technology Federal Secretary Akhlaq Ahmad Tarar.
The organising committee meeting for the event took place in the Ministry of Science and Technology offices.
The federal secretary said he was satisfied with the progress made till date but stressed coordination between the stakeholders.
