NA Body Seeks Increase In Budget Of MoST

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News -24th Augst,2016) : National Assembly Standing Committee on Science and Technology on Wednesday recommended to increase the budget of Ministery of Science and Technology (MoST) to make good achievements in research and development sector. The NA body met here under the chairmanship of MNA, Ch.

Tariq Bashir Cheema and attended by other members including Sarzameen, Ghulam Bibi Bharwana, Shazia Mubashar, Musarat Rafique Mahesar, Shams un Nisa, Ali Muhammad Khan, Lal Chand Malhi, Sajid Ahmed, Mehboob Alam and Aliya Kamran. The meeting noted that the country was spending only 0.29 percent of its total GDP on research and development that was very less as compare to the other countries of the world including China, India and Korea etc. It observed the current budget was insufficient to achieve the goals in R&D sector. The officials of the ministry briefed the NA committee about the performance of Pakistan National Accreditation Council (PNAC). The committee was informed that accreditation determines the technical competence and integrity of organizations offering testing including inspection, calibration and certification services including halal, product, systems, persons etc.

The body recommended for making the certification from accreditated laboratories mandatory for various products to ensure quality and boosting the country's export. The members said the competition in the world market was growing under the WTO regime by the hour, the demand for quality products and services duly certified through a third party that was internationally recognized under the accreditation system. The Chairman acknowledged the efforts made by PNAC which includes achievements such as signing mutual recognition agreement (MRA) and multi lateral arrangement (MLA) status with PLQAC/PAC and ILAC/IAF the regional and International apex bodies, which in turn gave equivalence status to PNAC with leading accreditation bodies worldwide. The committee also directed the ministry to fill the vacant posts in PNAC to improve its performance.