Pakistan-United States Sciences and Technology Cooperation Program Announced Grants worth $4 Million
At the Phase-V of Pakistan-United States Sciences and Technology Cooperation Program held at the Higher Education Commission (HEC), the US Charge d’ Affaires Ambassador, Richard Hoagland, recently announced new grants of $4 million (approximately Rs.378 million) for Pakistan-US cooperation in joint projects in science and technology. Around 70 joint projects have been funded during the last four phases of the cooperation.
Pakistani scientists and researchers have been asked to apply for these funds before the November 30 deadline this year. The grant proposals will be judged based on scientific merit, relevance to program objectives, qualifications of participants, and cost effectiveness. The main aim of this cooperation in the field of science and technology is to improve Pakistan’s progress in these areas and to alleviate the condition of the Pakistani nation.
If both Pakistan and the U.S. work bilaterally in areas important for Pakistan’s development, it can build trust in political relations and bring their people closer. Of all the foreign aid that the U.S. grants Pakistan, major portion of it is spent on the military and hardly any gets through for Pakistan’s socio-economic development. Transparency in such programs is of utmost significance to avoid corruption and have thorough accountability of results achieved.
At the event, a selected group of Pakistani scientists shared their efforts to bring in technological advancement in their respective fields, like telemedicine project through which doctors can be consulted even by people residing in remote areas. There is a solar energy project initiated at COMSATS Institute of Information that provides energy. Another sewage treatment project to give access to clean water was also presented by scientists from Quaid-e-Azam University. Such innovative scientific projects can successfully change Pakistan’s standing in the world of technology.
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