ISLAMABAD:Human capital is the strength of country, so, the present government has decided to invest in developing our human resource, said Federal Minister for Science and Technology (S&T) Mr. Rana Tanveer Hussain.
The Federal Minister was speaking as the Chief Guest at a ceremony regarding signing of MoU on Scientific and Technological Cooperation between Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF) and Lanzhou University, China.
PSF Chairman Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ashraf and Lanzhou University China,President Prof. Dr. Wang Cheng signed the MoU Federal Secretary for S&T Mr. Fazal Abbas Mekan, senior officers form Ministry of S&T and heads of S&T organizations also attended the ceremony to witness the MoU signing.
The Minister said that Scientific education is the main source of development, therefore, the Government has given due emphasis to knowledge in its Vision 2025. “We are committed to fully support the programmes for providing opportunities to young scholars for their scientific development, he said adding, in this regard, PSF has also been given the task of “Science Talent Farming Scheme” to hunt young scientific minds and prepare them to become professional scientists of future.
Mr. Rana Tanveer Hussain said that Ministry of Science & Technology and Pakistan Science Foundation are playing a pivotal role in capacity building and strengthening the scientific infrastructure in the country. The signing of this MoU today is a step in right direction as these special occasions provide an opportunity and direction to our scientific community to make their efforts. He added that our future lies in acquiring knowledge and bridging the existing technology gap for growth of our economy. Therefore, all developed countries, like China, should provide access to the resources, knowledge and the available technologies with them for the mutual socio-economic uplift of the masses across the globe, he maintained.
Mr. Fazal Abbas Mekan spoke on the Pak-China economic corridor and termed it the beginning of a new era of economic development in the region. He said that this MoU is being instituted between two prestigious institutions of Pakistan and China. He said this MoU will open new vistas of cooperation between the two brotherly countries.
Speaking on the occasion, PSF Chairman Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ashraf said that Lanzhou University, China, is among the 400 top universities of the world. He highlighted China’s success in growing crops on dryland in Lanzhou region. He said that the same technology is being transferred to Pakistan and the Chinese team in collaboration with Sargodha University, Pakistan is busy experimentation on the University land in Sargodha.
Under the MoU, PSF and the Lanzhou University have agreed to establish scientific and technological collaboration which would be of mutual advantage to both Institutions. To strengthen such collaboration, both institutions have agreed for active research collaboration in the fields of Natural and Physical Sciences. The bilateral collaboration will be established for reciprocal advantage, allowing the possibility of defining other research areas by mutual consent, in view, however of the possibilities available as well as of experience acquired by the scholars of the two Institutions. In order to achieve the aims, collaboration may be effected through exchange of visits by experts; Sharing of information, documentation and scientific publications; Study meetings, seminars and courses on subject matters foreseen by the MoU, Joint research projects of commercial importance & socio-economic development, Value Addition Short Courses (virtual and/or physical), Faculty exchange in master’s & PhD programs using a virtual environment teaching, Possibility of a joint master’s, PhD and professional training programs and Possibility of a hosting postdoc scholars from reputed Pakistani institutions.
Under the framework of this MoU, Specific Work Plans would be prepared and submitted by Pakistan Science Foundation and Lanzhou University, China.
Federal Minister for Science and Technology Rana Tanveer Hussain addresses a ceremony regarding signing of MoU between Pakistan Science Foundation and Lanzhou University China.
Federal Minister for Science and Technology Rana Tanveer Hussain and others witness signing of MoU by PSF Chairman Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ashraf and Lanzhou University China, President Prof. Dr. Wang Cheng.