Govt doubles Science and Technology budget to focus on applied research: Minister

June 16, 2021: Federal Minister for Science and Technology Shibli Faraz on Wednesday said the government has doubled the budgetary allocation for the science and technology sector and would put more emphasis on applied research.

The federal minister was addressing as the chief guest at the “Youth Recognition Programme” at Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF).

Speaking on this occasion, Shibli Faraz said the research papers, which have no practical benefit were of no use. "We have to put more focus on applied research to extend the benefit of research to the humanity", he said.

The minister observed that questioning is the most important factor that leads toward moving forward in science and technology.

He said that Muslim scientists laid the foundation of Mathematics and arithmetic but later on they remained behind in these subjects.

Shibli Faraz said that in our society, questioning was discouraged. He asked students to thoroughly investigate for reaching to the conclusion on any matter.

He said the government would expand its talent based programmes for providing more opportunities to the students.

He announced that PSF has increased the prize money for winning students from Rs10,000 to Rs100,000.

The minister appreciated the PSF efforts for providing science students best opportunities to excel in national and international competitions.

He said PSF’s programmes have boosted youth talent and science students have converted deprivation into opportunities.

Coordinator General COMSTECH, Dr. Iqbal Choudhary and Chairman PSF, Prof. Dr. Shahid Mahmood Baig also addressed the function.

Winners of top positions in international science competitions including Haris, Ms Zakia Tul Jannat and Umair Masood also shared their experiences with the audience.

Coordinator General COMSTECH Dr. Iqbal Choudhary in his address said that motivation and inspiration are the catalysts for excelling in any field and achieving the goals and targets.

Many factors trigger motivation and inspiration but the most important are the elements of competition and the desire of proving the best one among others and its recognition, he added.

The science competitions including science quiz, essays, posters, models, innovations and projects etc at the national and international levels are the best way of science popularization and generating students’ interest in science.

These competitions not only motivate students for hard work to win but also their interaction with other students open their minds for learning new things about science and creativity, the federal secretary maintained.

The winning students also become role models for other students and become a source of inspiration as well as motivation, he concluded.

PSF Chairman Prof. Dr. Shahid Mahmood Baig in his address highlighted the Foundation’s research and science popularization programmes.

APP