Nov 27 , 2015
News
President says technology key to development
APPISLAMABAD: President Mamnoon Hussain on Thursday said that key to development and stability of industries was in the use of modern technology and creativity.
He stated that auto industry in Pakistan had great potential to excel and called upon the policy-makers concerned and stakeholders to devise a comprehensive strategy to take this industry to new heights keeping in view globalisation, liberalisation and global business competitive environment.
Addressing the opening ceremony of 2nd Distinguished Innovations, Collaboration and Entrepreneurship (DICE) Automotive Conference organised by the National University of Science and Technology (NUST), he said the government was committed to promotion of auto industry in the country and it was imperative to develop the industry on modern lines while catering to the need of consumers.
Mamnoon noted that in developed countries auto industry was a central pillar of economy, as it was closely linked with other industries like steel, petroleum, plastic and textile thereby played a stabilising factor in the national economy. “The auto industry in Pakistan has attained great importance and if serious attention is paid towards its development then in the next few years this industry along with allied ones can provide employment to a large number of people,” remarked the president.
“Similarly, after operationalisation of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the importance of this industry would increase,” said the president. He observed that fundamental changes were occurring in auto industry in light of environmental degradation, adding that now environment friendly vehicles were being introduced in the global markets and called upon the country’s auto industry to pay attention toward this important aspect. The president said that the project would prove to be a game changer not only for Pakistan but for the whole region, adding that Central Asian states have started constructing roads to link with the economic corridor to get benefit from it.
He said that youth had great responsibility to put the country on the path of progress and prosperity and it should channelise its energy toward positive activities. He said that due to the ongoing energy projects and import of LNG the energy crisis in the country was likely to end by 2018. He urged the youth, particularly girls, to acquire education and advise them to adopt their own culture and not to ape the west.
DICE Automotive Pakistan Chairman Dr Abdul Ghafoor, Muhammad Asghar, NUST Rector Dr Khursheed Qureshi, Pakistan Association of Automotive Parts and Accessories Manufacturers (PAAPAM) chairman also addressed the ceremony.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk