Musharraf reaches for the moon

* President announces Rs 500m grant for IST
* Government planning to produce 1,500 PhDs every year by 2010

ISLAMABAD: The government has decided to put Pakistan on the map of nations exploring space, said President General Pervez Musharraf at the graduation ceremony of the Institute of Space Technology’s (IST) first batch of BSc in aeronautical, aeronautical engineering and communication systems engineering on Friday.

“We must explore space and bring its benefits to the people of Pakistan,” he said at the ceremony attended by federal ministers, services chiefs, senior government officials and the institute’s faculty. He vowed to launch a manned flight to space and even the moon in the coming years. Musharraf said the country’s space programme had been neglected in the past, and adequate funds had not been provided for its development. He said the government was providing funds to all research and strategic organisations to achieve the desired results.

The government had brought Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission under the National Command Authority’s control to bring the commission at par with strategic organisations, he said, adding that the government had realised the potential of space in terms of socio-economic development and security.

Recalling his visit to SUPARCO last year, the president said he was pleased to see the progress made by a team of young engineers and technicians. Giving his vision of Pakistan’s space programme, he asked SUPARCO to develop the country’s capacity to make and launch various types of satellites, especially communication, remote sensing and metrological satellites. “We expect SUPARCO to deliver as PAEC, NESCOM and KRL delivered in the nuclear and missile fields,” he said, asking graduating students to dedicate themselves to the vision’s fulfilment.

Human resources were the key to Pakistan’s success in various fields, including space technology, he said, adding, “We are trying our best to improve the quality of education for people at the grassroots level. This is the future.”

He said the government was targeting to produce 1,500 PhDs every year by 2010 to improve the education faculty.

Musharraf said an improvement in human resources would lead Pakistan to a knowledge-based society and transform its economy. He said it was unfortunate that a developing country like Pakistan was involved in agriculture only, since, “Agriculture is not going to take us to new heights and boost our economy.” Highlighting the importance of science and technology, he said the difference between a developing country and a small but developed country was that the latter possessed knowledge-based economy and modern technology.

Progress in science and technology had helped Pakistan reduce the cost of products, he said while expressing satisfaction over the fact that Pakistan was moving a path of knowledge-based economy.

The president announced a Rs 500 million grant for IST in the first stage and a similar sum in the second stage. agencies

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