ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee on Science and Technology has recommended to raise the national research and development spending up to 1 percent and 2 percent of GDP by years 2018 and 2023 respectively.
The committee was briefed that the brain drain due to the unattractive salaries is affecting the research and development work.
Meeting of the NA Body was held here on Friday at Committee Room of Pakistan Council for Science and Technology (PCST) with MNA Chaudhry Tariq Bashir Cheema in chair to discuss the agenda circulated vide Notice No.F.10(1)/2016-Com-I (Vol-III) dated May 24, 2016.
The Chairman Standing Committee on Science and Technology was welcomed by the Minister for Science and Technology and officials of Ministry & PCST at their office. After starting the proceedings of meeting, Chairman Committee requested MNA Mr. Aftab Shahban Mirani, to chair the meeting as he has to attend the meeting of Parliamentary Committee on Panama Papers in Parliament House, Islamabad on the same time. One of the Committee members expressed his concern about leaving Standing Committee meeting by Chairman Standing Committee & Minister at the outset of meeting and said that importance is not given to the Committee meeting and he walked out.
The Committee appreciated the Executive Committee of National Commission for Science and Technology (ECNCST) for conducting its 6th meeting in March 2016 after a long gap of about 14-year.
The Committee appreciated the efforts of PCST were being made in the field of research & development and recommended to devise a mechanism for its publicity so-that the general public can also be aware.
The meeting was attended by Minister for Science & Technology Rana Tanveer Hussain, Committee Members namely, Ms. Ghulam Bibi Bharwana, Makhdoom Syed Ali Hasan Gillani, Ms. Shazia Mubashar, Ms. Musarat Rafique Mahesar, Mr. Aftab Shahban Mirani, Ms. Shamas-un-Nisa, Mr. Ali Muhammad Khan, Mr. Lal Chand Malhi, Mr. Sajid Ahmed, Mr. Mehboob Alam, Ms. Alia Kamran, Chaudhary Armaghan Subhani and Ms. Shahjehan Muneer Mangrio.
