The meeting of the Standing Committee on Science and Technology held today in Committee Room of Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) under the Chairmanship of Ch. Tariq Bashir Cheema, MNA to consider “The National University of Technology Bill, 2017”.

After detail deliberations, the Committee unanimously recommended that “The National University of Technology Bill, 2017” as amended by the Standing Committee may be passed.

While briefing about the pros n cons of the Bill, Brig. Aftab Qureshi, apprised the Committee that technical manpower is the backbone and driving force of the economic development of a nation. In economically developed countries, knowledge based and technological education is therefore, accorded particular importance. However, in Pakistan technological education sector has generally remained ignored and under developed. It is a well-known fact that the non-availability of well-trained human resource in the technical fields, is seriously retarding our industrial growth. The situation is accentuated by the lack of recognition and virtual non-existence of the state of the art, higher education stream in the realm of technologies. In this backdrop, it has been conceptualized that a National University of Technology (NUTECH) be established to redress this deficiency. NUTECH envisions revolutionizing Technological Education Sector by introducing higher education in the technology streams. It shall also regulate and certify technical skill development in affiliated institutes to make it respective to the current and future needs of the industry and prospective opportunities offered by China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Establishment of NUTECH, being the first university in the fields of technology has the potential to all the existing vacuum on the lines of advanced countries, by providing platforms spread all over the Country. It would actualize the potentials of the large youth segment of our population to produce a productive and efficient workforce for the domestic requirements, as well as the export markets.

The following MNAs, Ms. Musarat Rafique Mahesar, Ms. Shamas-un-Nisa, Mr. Ali Muhammad Khan, Mr. Lal Chand Malhi, Syed Muhammad Athar Hussain Shah Gillani and Engineer Usman Khan Tarakai attended the meeting.