Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan needs a science and technology-based approach to ensure it can meet its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the country should engage its Research and Development departments in the process to formulate national development plans.

These views were expressed by participants at a talk called ‘Scientific Perspective on Sustainable Development Goals for Pakistan,’ organized by the Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS), here today. Arranged under the umbrella of COMSATS Science Diplomacy Programme and hosted by the Faculty Development Academy, CIIT, the talk (fourth in the series) revolved around the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted in 2015.

Dr. Seeme Mallick, from the Centre for Climate Research and Development at COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (CIIT), delivered the talk and emphasised adopting clean energy mechanisms to address several development issues faced by Pakistan. She opined that the country should focus on the provision of clean energy and better pricing mechanisms for rapid development. The lecture was delivered to a gathering of students, academics, researchers, COMSATS’ designated Science Ambassadors and other officials.

Dr. Mallick presented a review and rational outlook of SDGs in the context of Pakistan. She said that each of the SDGs has its own significance for Pakistan. These goals mainly include the elimination of poverty, good health, quality education, gender equality, clean water and sanitation and reduced inequality. She considered that the success of the SDGs is correlated to nations’ advancement in science and technology. For Pakistan to achieve the said goal, she proposed targeting sector-specific investment, macroeconomic stability, improved transport infrastructure, greener practices and processes in industry and agriculture, and channeling scientific research at higher education centres towards SDGs implementation.

Science Diplomacy Programme of COMSATS has been active in galvanizing policy makers and the general public on the potential of scientific interventions in addressing development issues, as well as the need for stronger and wider collaborations in science and technology.

Dr. Mallick considered COMSATS as an important forum to design a plan for science-based approaches for the implementation of SDGs in its member states including Pakistan. COMSATS’ Advisor Mr. Tajammul Hussain thanked all the participants at the conclusion of the lecture.