Science & Technology For National Development – Strengthening The S&T Road Map
“The revolution in communication, energy,
environmental sciences and other aspects of science and technology has imparted
an importance to S&T considerations in foreign affairs undreamed of a
generation ago.” – George Shultz
Prior
to the nineteenth century, investment in human capital was not considered
especially significant in any country. Similarly, expenditures on schooling,
on-the-job training, and other related forms of investment were pretty undersized.
This began to transform drastically during this century with the application of
science and technology (S&T) to the development of new goods and more
efficient methods of production – research and development (R&D). During
the twentieth century, education skills, and the acquisition of knowledge have
become crucial determinants of a person’s and a nation’s productivity. One can
even call the twentieth century the “Age of Human Capital” in the sense that
the prime determinant of a country’s standard of living is how it succeeds in
developing and utilizing the skills and knowledge, and furthering the education
and health of the majority of its inhabitants. The astonishing evolution in different fields
of S&T have had a deep impact on our lives in approximately every subject
of our activity, such as health, agriculture, communication, transportation, security
and defense. These progresses have been obsessed by an ever-growing degree of exhilarating
discoveries, principally emanating from science laboratories in the West, and
by their transformation into new products or processes that have flooded world
markets. These floods in turn shower gigantic economic rewards on those nations
that have the will and vision to make S&T the cornerstone of their
development agendas.
The world is today piercingly
divided by a technology frontier that separates the technologically advanced
countries from the technologically backward ones. The developed countries have
been able to use their scientists and engineers for speedy economic growth,
whereas the so-called developing countries are relegated to the role of
consumers of technological products. They become almost entirely dependent on
the advanced countries for most of their needs, be they chemicals, biomedical,
pharmaceuticals, engineering goods, transportation equipment, or defense
equipment. In the course, more and more funds from developing countries are
being transferred to developed countries, raising the level of poverty in the
developing countries. Hypothetically, the first decade of the twenty-first
century has seen the global center of gravity shift toward the Asia-Pacific
region. Its population already accounts for more than half of the world’s
people and is anticipated to surpass the collective Western World by 2030. The
Asia-Pacific is home to the fastest escalating economies in the world and its
collective share of global GDP is quickly impending 40 percent. The region has also
developed an elaborate system of organizations on S&T, R&D, economic
and security matters, promoting continual development and political strength.
Consequently, dependence
on S&T as an instrument for achievement of national development goals is a
phenomenon seen all over the word. In Pakistan, due to negligence and faulty vision
of planners in governments and bureaucracy, the S&T, R&D sector was
never given the status mandatory to efficiently use it as a contributor to
national development. The current level of S&T efforts in the country in
much below the requirements as compared with regional countries and the
scientific and technological gap is widening with the passage of time. That's
why, to live in the twenty-first century with grace, the immediate formulation
and implementation of a well thought-out, well-planned science and technology
strategy is urgently needed. In this regards, to strengthening the S&T Road
Map, the Government of Pakistan (GoP) and S&T authorities may perform the
following role:
·
The government should develop and
implement policies that will strengthen Pakistan science and engineering
through international cooperation. And, should have mechanisms to participate
in the key fields of research cooperation for the world scientific enterprise.
·
The government should muster as much reasoned
long-range anticipation as possible about how science and technology may be applied
to any and all Pakistan interests.
·
The government should use the Pakistan science
base for shorter-range problem assessment. The nation’s scientists and
engineers assist the government’s officials, acting as referees and analysts of
information with respect to current international issues.
·
The government should monitor S&T
developments abroad and understand the S&T, R&D strategies of other
nations and regional groupings.
·
The government should plan to take joint
action with other nations to address transnational problems, through the
necessary bilateral, multilateral frameworks. And, identify the critical needs
and provide high-leverage technical cooperation with developing and regional countries.
·
The government should use its technical
expertise to support negotiation of new international agreements, conventions,
and protocols and integrate expert knowledge in science and engineering into
adjudication and regulation at the international level.
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