HELD AT ISLAMABAD ON JUNE 11, 2012
SPEECH OF
SYED YUSUF RAZA GILANI
PRIME MINISTER OF PAKISTAN
***
Excellencies the Ambassadors and the High Commissioners;
Parliamentarians, Vice Chancellors, Rectors, and Presidents;
Ladies and gentlemen
Assalam-ul-Alakium, and a very good morning
It is my unique privilege to inaugurate this event where distinguished Vice Chancellors, Presidents, and Rectors of the universities as well as scholars, scientists, researchers and eminent academicians from all over the Islamic world and beyond have gathered under one roof.
At the outset, I must congratulate the organizers of this forum namely ISESCO, Ministry of Science and Technology, Higher Education Commission and, the COMSATS Institute of Information Technology on this wonderful initiative. I really appreciate your timely initiative, foresight and extreme hard work in making this event possible.
I earnestly hope that all our guests will have a pleasant and most productive time in the two-day conference. I also eagerly look forward to the proceedings of the conference, which will result into sound, specific and practical recommendations. I am confident that the practical proposals will further strengthen our respective higher education systems in general and research and development in science and technology in particular.
We can not over-emphasize the role of education and R&D in the socio-economic development of any country. In today’s knowledge based global society, the role of science and technology has assumed center-stage in the welfare and well being of the people. It, therefore, goes without saying that our nations’ prosperous future is tied to meaningful investments in science and technology-led education and human resource development.
Indeed, modern life style is so fully infused with the foot prints of contemporary technologies, which a few decades back could not even be imagined. In last decade or so, the technological advances have brought about a revolution both in our ways of thinking and living.
Ladies and gentlemen
If we look objectively, we would find that almost all the modern creature comforts, the modern technologies, the modern goods and gadgets, the modern cures for diseases, the modern contributions to a variety of knowledge have all mainly come from the Western world. We, the Muslims on the other hand, frankly speaking, are only the users and consumers of the fruits of hard work of others. In support of what I have just stated, let us take stock of the history of the Nobel Prize Awards, which dates back to 1901. We find that so far 825 individuals and 20 organizations have been awarded Nobel Prizes. Do you know how many out of this large number have been from the Islamic world? Just only 9, in spite of the fact that the Muslims constitute almost one quarter of the world’s total population.
May I, therefore, propose that along with the already set agenda for the Forum, let us also focus our attention on a paradigm shift from being just the users of technologies to becoming the producers of technologies, goods, and services. For this to happen would really require an all-embracing effort by all the stakeholders responsible for education, research and development. We will have to make increasing investments in education in spite of numerous other competing demands. Universities will need to prepare their students appropriately and equip them with the most relevant skill-sets, suitable for the modern market place. Research scientists will need to come up with innovative R & D projects geared toward creating socio-economic impact; and industry will need to develop active and meaningful linkages with universities so that lab research can be turned into commercially viable products.
Here let me assure you that my government is doing its utmost to achieve this. I am fully convinced that our future lies in developing and harnessing newer technologies.
Today’s universities are required to tackle the major scientific, economic and social challenges that lie ahead. They need to give new meaning to the formidable volume of knowledge, the information overload, and innovations. They need to find solutions to difficult existing problems as well as solutions to the anticipated problems which are likely to arise in future. The world in general and the Muslim countries in particular is suffering from dwindling natural resources. Water is becoming scarce; fossil fuel is fast diminishing; energy is becoming very expensive while demand for its use is increasing constantly. Environment has been badly threatened; ozone cover is depleting; world’s eco-systems are spinning out of control; population is growing uncontrollably; and quality of air is drastically deteriorating.
Many of the basic human needs like clean drinking water, food security and basic health care are not available to almost half of the Muslim Ummah, and the list is endless. Where would these problems ever find solutions? The answer is that solution to all these issues lies in the hands of our research scientists, scholars and universities.
It is a fact that even though Muslims constitute almost one quarter of the world’s population and possess almost half of the world’s total mineral and energy resources, their share in the world’s GDP is less than 12%.
I think the answer lies in the fact that we Muslims have not yet fully grasped the true meaning of KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY, KNOWLEDGE SOCIETY and KNOWLEDGE WORKERS. We will have to invest in human resource development through investment in education at all levels. I know that the three basic ingredients in realizing any goal are: a firm commitment; a well defined road-map; and investment of appropriate resources. You will be happy to note that all of these parameters are being met in my government.
We are continuously increasing the investment in education and research and will continue to do so in years ahead.
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is time that we start thinking about finding solutions to our own problems, so that we as Muslims may, some day, stand shoulder to shoulder with the developed world. We as political, academic, and governmental leaders owe it to our coming generations to ensure a safe, secure, and prosperous present as well as an equally certain future. The present Forum is the most appropriate platform, on which we have gathered some of the best brains and the outstanding academic luminaries from across the Islamic world, to deliberate upon numerous challenges and to propose the best possible and practical solutions to pull ourselves out of the current problems.
It is quite evident that the challenges are numerous and are quite daunting as well. It is also a fact that none of us can single-handedly tackle these challenges. It is, therefore, imperative that we all work together in the spirit of sincere cooperation to overcome our problems and provide a much better, and prosperous life to our people.
I would be very eagerly looking forward to the outcome of your two-day deliberations and the action plans, which I would be very happy to share with the concerned Ministries within the Government of Pakistan as well as with the leadership of your respective countries. Let me tell you that Pakistan is extremely happy to host this Forum and will be willing to host subsequent meetings as well. I am confident that the findings and recommendations of this Conference will guide our policy makers in formulating policies in accordance with imperatives of time.
In the end, I would like to once again felicitate the organizers of this Conference, especially its hosts, the COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, and all the individuals whose tireless efforts have made the Conference a reality. On behalf of the Government of Pakistan and on my own behalf, I would like to thank all the delegates from across the globe, who have undertaken long travels to be with us in this hot month of June. We really appreciate your presence in Islamabad.
Please enjoy your stay and enjoy the traditional hospitality of our people.
I thank you all!
Pakistan Zindabad!
SPEECH OF
SYED YUSUF RAZA GILANI
PRIME MINISTER OF PAKISTAN
***
Excellencies the Ambassadors and the High Commissioners;
Parliamentarians, Vice Chancellors, Rectors, and Presidents;
Ladies and gentlemen
Assalam-ul-Alakium, and a very good morning
It is my unique privilege to inaugurate this event where distinguished Vice Chancellors, Presidents, and Rectors of the universities as well as scholars, scientists, researchers and eminent academicians from all over the Islamic world and beyond have gathered under one roof.
At the outset, I must congratulate the organizers of this forum namely ISESCO, Ministry of Science and Technology, Higher Education Commission and, the COMSATS Institute of Information Technology on this wonderful initiative. I really appreciate your timely initiative, foresight and extreme hard work in making this event possible.
I earnestly hope that all our guests will have a pleasant and most productive time in the two-day conference. I also eagerly look forward to the proceedings of the conference, which will result into sound, specific and practical recommendations. I am confident that the practical proposals will further strengthen our respective higher education systems in general and research and development in science and technology in particular.
We can not over-emphasize the role of education and R&D in the socio-economic development of any country. In today’s knowledge based global society, the role of science and technology has assumed center-stage in the welfare and well being of the people. It, therefore, goes without saying that our nations’ prosperous future is tied to meaningful investments in science and technology-led education and human resource development.
Indeed, modern life style is so fully infused with the foot prints of contemporary technologies, which a few decades back could not even be imagined. In last decade or so, the technological advances have brought about a revolution both in our ways of thinking and living.
Ladies and gentlemen
If we look objectively, we would find that almost all the modern creature comforts, the modern technologies, the modern goods and gadgets, the modern cures for diseases, the modern contributions to a variety of knowledge have all mainly come from the Western world. We, the Muslims on the other hand, frankly speaking, are only the users and consumers of the fruits of hard work of others. In support of what I have just stated, let us take stock of the history of the Nobel Prize Awards, which dates back to 1901. We find that so far 825 individuals and 20 organizations have been awarded Nobel Prizes. Do you know how many out of this large number have been from the Islamic world? Just only 9, in spite of the fact that the Muslims constitute almost one quarter of the world’s total population.
May I, therefore, propose that along with the already set agenda for the Forum, let us also focus our attention on a paradigm shift from being just the users of technologies to becoming the producers of technologies, goods, and services. For this to happen would really require an all-embracing effort by all the stakeholders responsible for education, research and development. We will have to make increasing investments in education in spite of numerous other competing demands. Universities will need to prepare their students appropriately and equip them with the most relevant skill-sets, suitable for the modern market place. Research scientists will need to come up with innovative R & D projects geared toward creating socio-economic impact; and industry will need to develop active and meaningful linkages with universities so that lab research can be turned into commercially viable products.
Here let me assure you that my government is doing its utmost to achieve this. I am fully convinced that our future lies in developing and harnessing newer technologies.
Today’s universities are required to tackle the major scientific, economic and social challenges that lie ahead. They need to give new meaning to the formidable volume of knowledge, the information overload, and innovations. They need to find solutions to difficult existing problems as well as solutions to the anticipated problems which are likely to arise in future. The world in general and the Muslim countries in particular is suffering from dwindling natural resources. Water is becoming scarce; fossil fuel is fast diminishing; energy is becoming very expensive while demand for its use is increasing constantly. Environment has been badly threatened; ozone cover is depleting; world’s eco-systems are spinning out of control; population is growing uncontrollably; and quality of air is drastically deteriorating.
Many of the basic human needs like clean drinking water, food security and basic health care are not available to almost half of the Muslim Ummah, and the list is endless. Where would these problems ever find solutions? The answer is that solution to all these issues lies in the hands of our research scientists, scholars and universities.
It is a fact that even though Muslims constitute almost one quarter of the world’s population and possess almost half of the world’s total mineral and energy resources, their share in the world’s GDP is less than 12%.
I think the answer lies in the fact that we Muslims have not yet fully grasped the true meaning of KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY, KNOWLEDGE SOCIETY and KNOWLEDGE WORKERS. We will have to invest in human resource development through investment in education at all levels. I know that the three basic ingredients in realizing any goal are: a firm commitment; a well defined road-map; and investment of appropriate resources. You will be happy to note that all of these parameters are being met in my government.
We are continuously increasing the investment in education and research and will continue to do so in years ahead.
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is time that we start thinking about finding solutions to our own problems, so that we as Muslims may, some day, stand shoulder to shoulder with the developed world. We as political, academic, and governmental leaders owe it to our coming generations to ensure a safe, secure, and prosperous present as well as an equally certain future. The present Forum is the most appropriate platform, on which we have gathered some of the best brains and the outstanding academic luminaries from across the Islamic world, to deliberate upon numerous challenges and to propose the best possible and practical solutions to pull ourselves out of the current problems.
It is quite evident that the challenges are numerous and are quite daunting as well. It is also a fact that none of us can single-handedly tackle these challenges. It is, therefore, imperative that we all work together in the spirit of sincere cooperation to overcome our problems and provide a much better, and prosperous life to our people.
I would be very eagerly looking forward to the outcome of your two-day deliberations and the action plans, which I would be very happy to share with the concerned Ministries within the Government of Pakistan as well as with the leadership of your respective countries. Let me tell you that Pakistan is extremely happy to host this Forum and will be willing to host subsequent meetings as well. I am confident that the findings and recommendations of this Conference will guide our policy makers in formulating policies in accordance with imperatives of time.
In the end, I would like to once again felicitate the organizers of this Conference, especially its hosts, the COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, and all the individuals whose tireless efforts have made the Conference a reality. On behalf of the Government of Pakistan and on my own behalf, I would like to thank all the delegates from across the globe, who have undertaken long travels to be with us in this hot month of June. We really appreciate your presence in Islamabad.
Please enjoy your stay and enjoy the traditional hospitality of our people.
I thank you all!
Pakistan Zindabad!
No comments:
Post a Comment