Major overhaul needed for S&T sector
By Technology Times at August 6, 2011 | 3:38 pm | PrintA- Reset A+
Most recently, the Public Accounts Committee has recommended to the government to close Ministry of Science and Technology, terming it as useless. It viewed that the ministry and its subsidiaries especially Pakistan Agriculture and Research Council (PCSIR) have shown utter disappointment in their performance and they should either be closed or there should be some reforms in these departments. The prevalent lethargic attitude on the part of the senior executives of the Ministry of Science and Technology towards handling the research projects in the country unarguably forced the PAC to take a harsh stance regarding closure of the ministry. Most of the research projects launched in the country ‘half-heartedly’ failed to achieve the desired results mainly due to the shortsightedness of the decision makers or the mishandling at the implementation level. Ultimately, most of the research and development projects were closed and shelved due to mismanagement. Going through the facts on which the PAC has recommended closure of the ministry it looks a sane decision as according to general rules such projects that regularly yield no progress at any stage become white elephants and must be closed to save the precious national money as well as time. But this would be a destructive approach on the part of the decision makers because at this stage when things are fast heading towards progress in almost all sectors, closure of vital projects, especially in the field of science and technology, would be no less than a ‘national suicide’. The role and mandate of the ministry make one believe that it is supposed to adopt a pivotal role in ensuring progress in science and technology. It is supposed to formulate as well as implement policies pertaining to the advancement of science and technology, including scientific research and development and transfer of technologies, to ensure improved quality and productivity and expand economic activities. But these functions cannot be completed until and unless there are effective long-term policies. During the past about years, the ministry had three secretaries as the government in routine posts those bureaucrats to the ministry whose service period was about to lapse. This attitude discourages formulation of sustainable policies. Closure of this ministry is no option by any means. At this critical stage, the authorities need to come up with a reshuffle in its priorities and go for an overhaul of the ministry in order to formulate sustainable policies to ensure tangible progress in science and technology, which would devise the country’s track towards sustainable progress and help in dealing the outer world with a matching status.
