950824

Countrywide

technology

service centres

planned

RECORDER REPORT

FAISALABAD: The Ministry of Science and Technology has decided to establish local technology service centres throughout Pakistan to provide skilled manpower and a solid base for the further development of our industrial sector.

After signing General Agreement on Tariff and Trade (Gatt) and liberalization of economy, our industry is likely to face stiff domestic as well as international competition. This prompted the need to establish local technology service centres in the areas of testing product development, quality improvements and training etc, to assist local industry to upgrade their products. Realizing the importance of such centres, the Ministrry of Science and Technology in line with the national technology policy was actively working on strengthening the local industrial base with a view to improve the quality of industrial products and enhance export capability through the establishment of these centres. The ministry with the collaboration of World Bank and the active involvement of industrial associations and groups has already started work on the establishment of three local technology service centres.

These centres are being set up as private-public ventures where government would provide a part of initial capital to the interested industrial associations which will be responsible for its management. The ministry has asked the industrial associations and groups interested to participate in the establishment of these centres to submit their proposals for consideration during the next phase of this project.