Pakistan’s first science, innovation and technology park become functional by December 5, 2018 at the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR), Lahore.
Initiating first science, technology and Innovation Park in Pakistan could change the countenance of Pakistan’s economy exclusively and it had been revolutionized into a new, dynamic and pulsating economy of the world.
STIP will help the industrial sector toggle over to knowledge-based economy with a multi-dimensional chain of value addition.
Dr Shahzad Alam, PCSIR Chairman at Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI), alleged that another proposal was under consideration to set up a dedicated science, technology and innovation park for the textile sector in Faisalabad.
The project STIP start running in December 2018 will be funded through our own resources (PCSIR) and is expected to be completed within 56 days as; PCSIR has a globally accredited lab which has the facility to conduct 472 sophisticated tests. Initially 15 to 20 industrial units would be provided space and facilities while in the later period, additional facilities could be accommodated.
Over the last 70 years, successive attempts had been made to promote the knowledge-based industry in Pakistan. Set up of science, technology and Innovation Park in Pakistan will provide innovative ideas in addition to upgrading technology and value addition in existing as well as in new industrial units.
The Lahore Knowledge Park started with a funding of Rs1 billion, but its net result was zero. Similarly, two of Pakistani universities proposed viability reports involving “National University of Science and Technology” Nust Rs70 million and Comsats University Rs55 million respectively for the system which also failed to defer any result.
The idea of science and technology Park had been coined keeping in view a Chinese model which had four dimensions. The first dimension, China developed national hi-tech zones. Similarly, local substitutes for different imports were manufactured within the country while new technologies were imported to upgrade the Chinese industrial sector.
The model had changed the face of Chinese economy entirely and it had been transformed into a new, dynamic and vibrant economy of the world. “Now, China has developed vision 2050 which is aimed at making it a global leader in innovation.”
Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) had inked agreements with Belarus and China to acquire latest technology in the world which could be provided to local industrialists.
PCSIR has acquired technology to extract oil. Similarly, we should not allow exploration and export of raw minerals to foreigners.
We should frame a practical and progressive mineral policy so that our private sector can explore and export it after value addition.
Bringing these innovations in Pakistan could completely transform the economy as well as become the innovation leader worldwide.