The Governments in highly developed countries have played a vital role in establishing scientific and technological infrastructure that has contributed substantially to their economic growth and the competitive success of their industry. In 1973, the Government of Pakistan established Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF), as an Autonomous Body under the umbrella of Ministry of Science and Technology through an Act of the Parliament. The main objective of the establishment of Pakistan Science Foundation was to promote and finance scientific activities for research in the universities and other research centres in Pakistan, to strengthen science popularization and science culture and also to support applied research having a bearing on socio-economic needs of the country.
The Foundation has two subsidiary organizations working under it, namely Pakistan Scientific and Technological Information Centre (PASTIC) and Pakistan Museum of Natural History (PMNH). The PASTIC, the premier organization in the field of scientific and technological information dissemination to the researchers all over the country, was established as early as 1957. Major achievements of PASTIC is the supply of documents to S&T community, provision of bibliographic references to research scholars, collection of 5,00,000 U.S., Canadian, German, Australian &, European patents and production of 25,000 indicative and informative abstracts of indigenous S&T literature, compilation and publication of Union Catalogue of S&T periodicals of S&T Libraries of Pakistan and an inventory of S&T periodicals and provision of training in Information Management, Library automation, WINISIS, CDS/ISIS, IPRs etc.
PASTIC is the coordinating agency for NUDP Technological Information Promotion System (TIPS) and also the national focal point of SAARC Documentation Centre (SDS), WHO/CEHANET and UNEP/INFOTERRA. PASTIC also looks after the Intellectual Property Regulations from scientific and technological point of view and cooperates with IPO Pakistan.
The PMNH, located at Garden Avenue, Shakar Parian, Islamabad was established in 1976 under the patronage of Pakistan Science Foundation. The main objectives of the establishment of the museum are to collect, conserve and conduct research on flora, fauna, fossils, rocks and minerals of Pakistan and to create awareness about the natural wealth of Pakistan and educate masses for conservation of Natural Resources. The scientists at the Pakistan Museum of Natural History are also actively engaged in research activities and have contributed significantly in areas of their specialization.
Thousands of samples of plants, animals, rocks, minerals, fossils, etc. have been collected. Each year new collections from unexplored areas are also being added. So far, about 3,50,000 specimens have been collected and preserved. PMNH scientists have published some 12 books and 400 research articles in reputed journals covering scientific issues on the flora, fauna, rocks, minerals and fossils of Pakistan.
The Pakistan Museum of Natural History has international collaboration with 20 institutions and 8 countries including Japan, Italy, USA, Switzerland, Germany, France, U.K. and Spain. At the national level, PMNH maintains close collaboration with over 30 scientific organizations including various ministries of the Government.
NSLP Endowment fund is an important component of PSF. Endowment Fund for a sum of Rs.500.00 million was created from the sale proceeds of 42,041.289 million tons of Soybean imported from USA under PL-480. The fund is aimed to boost up the agricultural research in the country. It is being managed by Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF) through Board of Governors (BoG) and Funds Management Committee (FMC). The Chairman, PSF is the Chief Executive of the Programme/Fund.The main objective of the fund is to enhance the agriculture production through effective research, which will ultimately uplift farmer’s income being an end user. The research is carried out in collaboration between the scientists of US and Pakistan.
Pakistan is not the food insecure country, but the latest climate change has placed us on trial to redirect our agricultural research, emphasizing more to cope up with the changing trends on these current issues. In this regard, projects providing the amicable solution to these issues are encouraged more. Projects are invited from various Universities and R&D organizations of the country highlighting these issues. Research work is mostly emphasized on the Food Security issues in Pakistani scenario. NSLP Endowment fund currently funding 21 projects from the different universities and R&D organizations around the country.
Projects are received from researchers around the year, they undergo through a tough scrutiny and are presented in front of Technical Committee, comprising of eminent scientist from different specialized areas of Agriculture and related fields.
The target areas of these projects include germplasm screening of different crops, insect and pest management for the disease free crop production and Post harvest technology. All these research issues are the vital component of today’s Agriculture as bringing value added products in the market is the current trend of modern agriculture. Apart from this, many projects from specialized fields of animal sciences are also being funded from this Fund. These include genetic screening of different animal breeds and feed technology. In future this Fund aims to fund more research projects related to more applied fields of Agriculture especially issues related to the Climate change and its effect on the Pakistani Agriculture.
The main aim of the Fund is to benefit the Farmers being the end user. For this purpose “Farmers Conventions” are also organized by the NSLP. The first of its kind was held in Oct 2010. In this convention Principal Investigators from the ongoing projects of NSLP presented their progress so far. The aim of these Conventions is to minimize the Communication gap between the researcher and the farmer, so that the effective research can reach up to the end user. NSLP fund also plans to organize a series of workshops in different Universities across the country. These workshops will guide the researchers in the formulation of quality research projects for funding to with the aim to help researchers in the formulation of quality research projects.
Socio-economic progress of any nation is achievable by development and appropriate use of indigenous technologies through application and commercialization of research. Socio-economic progress is the most daunting task faced by the third world countries. Pakistan is a country blessed with tremendous amount of natural resources, state of the art public sector capability and well established marketability system in the private sector. However, a strong and sustainable link amongst research organizations, industrial community/end-users and funding institutions is some what lacking and has to be established to achieve the objective of economic independence which directly enhances the quality of life in any society.
To meet the emerging global challenges, scientific and industrial community should follow an integrated and collaborative approach. Industrial community has to be facilitated in the identification of research issues and R & D organizations should embark upon marketable research projects so the results drawn from them can be applied to solve industrial problems.
The socio-economic development is targeted through the utilization of indigenous research results. PSF is actively promoting the concept of Applied Research and Industrial Linkages under its R&D- Industry Programme. Its core focus is to promote and commercialize the technologies/products to effectuate socio-economic needs of the country eradicating our dependence on the imports. We are looking upon three prime objectives to be accomplished out of our research activities and these are fulfillment of national needs, import substitution and exports. In this context, Industrial Linkages Programme (ILP) was started in the year 2002 to provide a platform whereby end-users, funding institutions and research organizations work in close coordination to ensure application of research, development of technology, its transfer and commercialization. This programme was approved by PSF’s Board of Trustees and renamed as “R&D – Industry Programme”. Under this programme, linkages are being established amongst Academia, R&D organizations and Industrial community. This Public Private Partnership (PPP) shall pave way to achieve socio-economic targets.
Another main objective of this programme is to transfer the benefits of scientific research to the common people through technology development and its commercialization.
The Foundation has so far funded 1036 research projects that have resulted in publication of 603 research papers in national and international journals. As far as the development of trained manpower is concerned, as a result of research funding of university research projects by PSF, a total number of 265 research scholars have acquired their M.Phil and Ph.D degrees. During the last three years, the Foundation has funded 59 new research projects and from PSF funded completed projects a total number of 111 research papers have been published, 4 research scholars have obtained their MSc. (Hon) degrees, 79 have acquired their M.Phil. Degrees and 31 have done their Ph.D’s.
Pakistan Science Foundation feels proud to support innovative initiatives by the young Engineers, Scientists and Technologists for the promotion of S&T Sector leading to socioeconomic development of the country. During the year 2010, under its “Invention and Innovation grants” Pakistan Science Foundation sponsored a team “Aqua” from Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences & Technology, the only team from South Asia that qualified for the track race event in shell Eco-Marathon Asia, 2010 held at Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia.
Recently, the Foundation has awarded Dr. Z.A. Hashmi PSF R&D Gold Medal after the name of its founding Chairman to be awarded to Principal Investigators of PSF supported research projects based on excellence of their research output on competition basis. This year it was awarded to the Dr. Aly Khan and Dr. Zakaullah for their achievements made through PSF funded projects for the year 2005-06 respectively. Programme of Awards to Inventors and Innovators was also initiated in 2005. In the first competition, the first prize was awarded to Mr. Hassan Rashid Ramay for developing First Quran Software of the World, Quran System, Mr. Akhtar Ali Khan got the second prize for Building Management System (BMS), while the third prize went to Dr. Majid ul Hassan for developing Solar Hybrid Dryer for Apricot Dehydration. Besides, the Foundation runs a fellowship programme for brilliant young scholars having excellent academic record and enrolled for their M.Phil. and Ph.D. programmes in local universities.
The scientific research is also promoted through grant of institutional support to universities and research organizations for building up their research capabilities. The Foundation maintains active liaison with international S&T organizations involving joint research, visits of scientists, and exchange of scientific information.
Non-government scientific societies, associations and learned bodies play a vital role in disseminating scientific knowledge and promoting science through conferences and scientific publications. The Foundation provides grants-in-aid to such bodies to carry out their activities. The Foundation also provides them the financial assistance for the organization of science conferences, seminars, symposia, and workshops to enable scientists to share their knowledge and research experience.
The Foundation is engaged in various sciences popularization activities at the national level with the aim of increasing awareness of science education in the society. Science Caravan is a Mobile Science Exhibition that has been designed to increase public awareness about science and to motivate the younger generation towards study of science. Besides, people living in rural backward areas of the country are exposed to some of the most fascinating scientific and technical developments of the modern world through display items. At present, nine Science Caravan Units are in operation, two each in PSF Centres in Peshawar, Quetta, Lahore and Karachi and one is stationed at Islamabad.
The Foundation has recently embarked upon some new initiatives for the development of science culture in the country. These new initiatives include establishment of 500 science clubs in high schools, opening of additional science centres in different cities.
Pakistan Science Foundation and the Academie Des Sciences, France signed a MoU of cooperation for the improvement of teaching and learning sciences at Primary and Secondary levels through an inquiry based approach. Mr. Jean Salencon, President Academie Des Sciences, France and Dr. Manzoor Hussain Soomro Chairman Pakistan Science Foundation signed the MoU on behalf of their respective organizations in Paris.
The MOU aims at ensuring to disseminate inquiry based teaching at Primary and Secondary levels supported by science education in order to foster the capacity of both the countries to acquire skills and other necessary elements for good understanding of nature and reality. It will also provide research support mechanism and popularize science in order to create science awareness at grass root level. Three MoUs have been signed with different universities for donation of land for establishment of science centres, whereas the Capital Development Authority has very kindly earmarked a piece of land measuring 10 acres for the Pakistan Science Museum in Garden Avenue, a suitable area in Shkarparian, Islamabad where other two Museums, the Folk Heritage Museum and the Pakistan Museum of Natural History (PMNH) of the Pakistan Science Foundation are also located. All these projects are being given full support by the Government of Pakistan through the patronage of Ministry of Science and Technology.
“The La Main a La Pate” the Inquiry Based Learning programme initiated in Pakistan with the support of French Embassy. This programme focuses on the teaching of science in primary schools to develop the questioning attitude of children during experiments. Teachers Training Workshop in Islamabad in Oct-Nov 2010. Two French experts imparted training to teachers from 27 schools of Rawalpindi/ Islamabad and Science Caravan staff.
SAARC Science Caravan has been agreed to be prepared by Oct 2011. PSF is declared Focal Point/responsible for preparing the Pakistan Component
As its regular programme, the Foundation donates scientific books and magazines to high schools particularly in the rural areas. To encourage young writers and scientists, the Foundation provides financial assistance for publishing their scientific work in the form of monographs and books.
Another important programme of the Foundation is the preparation of science posters, brochures and leaflets on important and interesting emerging scientific themes and concepts. Annual Science Essay and Poster Competitions are also very successful programmes of the Foundation, which are organized in collaboration with 22 Boards of Intermediate and Secondary Education between the students of high schools of the country on important scientific topics each year. Winning students are awarded cash prizes and merit certificates.
Most of the high schools working in government sector in the rural areas lack laboratory equipment, the Foundation in consultation with the respective Directorate of Education provides laboratory equipment to deserving high schools for strengthening their laboratories. Celebration of special events is another important activity of the Foundation. Thus, holding of World Science Day for Peace and Development (WSDPD) on 10th November, which was approved by UNESCO on the proposal of the Pakistani scientist Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad, the former Chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, has become a regular programme of the Foundation. The Foundation in collaboration with the Ministry of Science & Technology and UNESCO holds various activities like, convention of scientists, speech competitions among students and science exhibitions on this day.
As its regular activity, the Foundation organizes S&T Fairs and Expos for the purpose of stimulating public interest in science and illustrating the progress and accomplishments of scientific institutions of the country. The Foundation also provides financial assistance and technical guidance to other academic and R&D organizations in arranging such events. The Foundation organized S&T Expo-2007, shaping the Future at the Pakistan Monument Museum, Shakar Parian, Islamabad in March-April, 2007, International Mathematics Expo, 2008, Expo on environment “The Earths Future in Our Hands” 2009.
In the hour of natural catastrophe in the form of flood last year, Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF) took active steps to help the people in need. PSF to help the flood victims, apart from giving one day’s salary by the officers in BS-17 to BS-22 as per Government decision.
In addition to this PSF also mobilized its whole network and units across the country in the flood relief activities. PSF sub-offices and sub-centers at Peshawar, Faisalabad, Sukkur, Karachi and Quetta worked in close collaboration with the local Government and NGOs involved in flood relief activities.
Therefore, the Pakistan Science Foundation is striving hard to meet its responsibilities to add to the success of the new projects supported by the government to serve the people of Pakistan.
http://www.technologytimes.pk/mag/2011/jan11/supply01/a_leading_national_s_t.php
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