- ‘Economic development depends on intellectual capital, quality human resource and upliftment of industry’
ISLAMABAD: Planning, Development and Reform Minister Makhdum Khusro Bakhtiar has underlined the need for transforming Pakistan from agriculture-based to technology-driven knowledge-based economy in order to compete at the international level.
He emphasized upon the promotion of science and technology that can provide innovative and creative solutions for progress and betterment of society.
The minister was talking to former Science and Technology minister and former Higher Education Commission chairman Dr Attaur Rahman, who called on him at Islamabad on Wednesday.
During the meeting, Dr Attaur Rahman informed that a national task force on ‘technology-driven knowledge economy’ is being set up under the chairmanship of prime minister with himself (Dr Atta) as the vice chairman.
The task force would comprise all key stakeholders to chalk out the way forward to a knowledge-based economy, he said, adding that the proposed task force would cover various sectors, wherein emphasis would be laid on the promotion of technology and knowledge to attain maximum dividends, including agriculture, energy, water resources and IT sector.
Speaking on the occasion, the minister said that the economic development of a country does not depend solely on natural resources but also on intellectual capital, quality human resource, development of industry and value-added production.
The minister noted that in today’s world, knowledge is the main driving force behind leading economies, adding that knowledge contributes significantly to economic growth.
Bakhtiar called for focusing on demand-driven technologies that have a direct impact on the national economy. “Knowledge-based economy provides the basis for sustainable socio-economic development,” he underscored.
The minister said that focusing on high-tech manufacturing and exports would not only boost the national economy but would also provide an opportunity to capture its due share in the global market.
It is pertinent to mention that Prime Minister Imran Khan, earlier this month, approved, in principle, the constitution of a task force on technology-driven knowledge economy.
The task force was established with an aim to carry out foresight exercises at regular intervals in order to constantly re-evaluate national priorities and put in place strategies and action plans, with delineated timelines, to build a powerful knowledge economy.
