13 new science programmes worth Rs1.5bn under new ‘Science Agenda’ would be launched in KP
PESHAWAR
About Rs1.5 billion will be spent during the next three years on 13 different science programs in the province as the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government launched its future science agenda.
Addressing the launching ceremony of the ‘Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Science Agenda Programme’ here on Tuesday, the provincial minister for science and information technology Atif Khan said the agenda aimed at providing a regional and uniformed platform to all stakeholders including academies, start-ups, industry, researchers.
Atif Khan added that the program has identified around 11 areas including gemstones, bees and honey, fruits and vegetables, fisheries, herbs and medicinal plants, micro-hydro plants, archeology, urban environment, biomedicine, space science and advanced materials.
“The program would empower scientists, researchers, innovators and entrepreneurs to seek research grants, resources, fellowships, travel grants to conferences, and other financial aid to develop their technology solutions and prototypes for greater benefit of the province,” said the minister.
The minister elaborated that KP government wants scientists to focus on three areas including advanced materials, biomedicine and space sciences along with uplifting of the eight key natural resources that the province is endowed with.
The key natural resources include gemstones, bees & honey, fruits & vegetables, fisheries, herbs & medicinal plants, micro-hydro power, archaeology, and urban environment.
Secretary ST&IT Khalid Khan on the occasion claimed that for the first time KP government has devised a comprehensive, end-to-end roadmap for science that touches every piece of our science enterprise which makes this Agenda unique.
The ceremony was organized by the Directorate General of Science Technology. Over two-hundred leaders from universities, research institutions, startups, industry, the development sector and government officials attended the launch of the program, meant to ‘renew the commitments towards uplifting in science literacy, excellence in scientific research and catalyzing innovation, all towards strengthening the national economy and uplifting the society’.
