ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister of Science and technology, Senator Shibli Faraz pointed out on make Pakistan self-sufficient by promoting local industry and focusing on import substitution.
The minister said this while presiding over a meeting on import of scientific and crude instruments materials on Thursday.
During the meeting, the federal minister he said his ministry aims to work in line with the 2022 Science, Technology and Innovation Policy to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals according to the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan.
He said the country is currently rely on imported and raw products materials for its industrial needs e should follow in the footsteps of the fourth industrial revolution in the west. Faraz stressed the need promote local industry through promotion research And development And creating close link between industry and academia, following the Triple Helix concept.
The representatives of industries said the present government it needs to protect local production and import substitution as a government priority. Efficient energy systems are installed in industry to achieve a clean and sustainable industry development, they said.
Meanwhile, representatives of the Pakistan Science Foundation and the National University of Science and Technology indicated out that there is a need to increase funding for research and development which is the basis of every industrial revolution.
Industrial mapping will be performed to identify three to four test initials phase projects and therefore a global action plan will be developed based on their findings, they said.
There will be three industrial sectors including agriculture, engineering and electronics main to focus in this stage, said Shibli Faraz.
He said the industries will be identified in the next meeting and a roadmap of three to six will be the months drawn up to move forward with the initial phase. The minister stated that the new Small and medium-sized enterprises policy it’s a great initiative and the government want ensure the protection of new industries.
