The federal cabinet has approved the Ministry of Science and Technology’s Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy-2021, which addresses the needs of various sectors of the country.
It’s worth noting that this is the country’s third science and technology strategy since independence, with the first being passed in 1984 and the second in 2012. The previous two policies had challenges with execution and did not generate the expected results.
The Ministry of Science and Technology formulated the new policy to meet the challenges of the new era, particularly in light of the changing socio-economic dynamics in the country as a result of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and other projects, scientific innovations, and new emerging technologies.
The new policy emphasises the need of tackling the issues that various industries face. It addresses human needs as well as economic growth and development by increasing capacity and promoting technologies.
The policy asks for smart cities to be built in stages. According to the strategy, smart cities will use developing technology to provide inhabitants with a healthy lifestyle by assuring e-governance, contemporary security systems, efficient transportation systems, green energy, and long-term infrastructure development, among other things.
The new strategy also calls for the creation of a data centre at the ministry level, which will be accessible to policymakers, researchers, scientists, students, government organisations, and industry, among others.
It proposes policies to eliminate wage and allowance discrepancies among scientists working for various organizations.
In addition to fostering indigenous product creation, the policy provides strategies for generating qualified technology employees and executives. It encourages entrepreneurship and calls for national standardization, quality, and accreditation systems to be established and strengthened.
Artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, 3D printing, AR/VR, smart robotics, blockchain, biotechnology, intelligent vehicle, nanotechnology, materials science, big data/data-mining, green technologies, space technologies, ICT, and e-textiles, among other emerging technologies, will be adopted and exploited under the new policy.
It also proposes the creation of an emerging technologies fund (ETF). It also emphasizes the importance of international cooperation in the fields of research and technology, as well as technology transfer.
According to the policy, an effective implementation structure will be developed. In addition, the policy will establish a steering committee, a policy implementation and monitoring advisory board, and a policy implementation unit inside the Ministry as well as at the inter-ministerial and government levels.
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