Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Directorate General of Science and Technology successfully unveiled 13 new science programs worth 1.5 billion rupees under the KP Science Agenda in Peshawar on Tuesday. Two-hundred leaders from universities, research institutions, startups, industry, the development sector and the government came together witness the launch. It was meant to ‘renew the commitments towards uplifting in science literacy, excellence in scientific research and catalysing innovation, all towards strengthening the national economy and uplifting the society’.
‘We want our scientists to focus on three areas of the future where KP wants to get established: advanced materials, biomedicine and space sciences. But I also want them not to forget the uplifting of the eight key natural resources that our province has been endowed with, including areas such as gemstones, bees and honey, micro-hydal power and fruits’ said senior minister Atif Khan, who is in-charge of science and technology, IT, food and youth affairs.
The attendees were welcomed by Mr Sajid Hussain Shah, the Director General for Science and Technology, followed by a speech by the secretary for science, technology and IT, Mr Muhammad Khalid.
‘This is the first time we are bringing a comprehensive, end-to-end roadmap for science that touches every piece of our science enterprise which makes this Agenda unique. We also bring focus on a small number of key areas to be able to develop a critical mass of talent and infrastructure in the province. Only then can we begin to develop solutions that will replace imports and grow into experts for the province and the country’, said Dr Faisal Khan, a leading scientist in the province and a graduate of the University of Oxford, who is Advisor to the Minister.
