Artificial intelligence, information technology a prerequisite to compete

on 17/08/2020

National Showcasing of Artificial Intelligence and IoT Products & Services” was organized by COMSTECH Secretariat and other partners in the capital.
The National Exhibit/Showcase was aimed to further foster interest in Science, Technology, and Innovation and to popularize the field of artificial intelligence among the youth of Pakistan, stimulating their interest in the sphere of innovation, and in high-tech areas of technology.
It was intended to bring a unique platform for innovators, technology developers, service providers, who are eager and ready to share experience and professional skills with participants of common interests in science, technology and innovation.
The National Exhibit/Showcase, as the organizers said was designed for projects and innovations in the realm of AI or allied technologies.
It aimed at next generation technologies, solutions and strategies from all over Pakistan, and an opportunity to explore and discover the practical and successful implementation of AI and allied technologies in Pakistan.
It meant to bring all the stakeholders in Pakistan on one platform, providing the opportunity to network with relevant ministries, industry R&D organizations, academia, strategic organizations and peers.
President Dr. Arif Alvi addressed the moot stressing the need for th promotion of artificial intelligence and information technology in order to compete with the world.
He said Pakistan could become a major player in technology by aligning expertise with future demands adding that data was the ‘new gold of contemporary age’, which he said could be used to gain maximum benefit to boost the economy and enhance exports.
He mentioned that China and Japan were prominent examples of making strides in development by combining systems of governance with technology.
The President said Pakistan was working towards the implementation of a digital payment system for smooth and fast financial transactions.
He said with agriculture as the country’s backbone, the use of drones for harvest operations and pest sprays, and monitoring crop growth through digital-imaging capabilities could help the farmers for making correct assessments about their fields.
The President stressed better optimization of the country’s big database of individuals to explore areas that required more attention.
He termed three stages important in making a difference in the field of artificial intelligence, including concept and innovation, translating it into the product, and effective marketing.
He emphasized on developing human resources that could contribute to software making and thus excel in digital technology.
President Alvi said the COMSTECH could play an effective role in the promotion of science and technology in Islamic countries and expressed confidence that the exhibit would provide academics and industries a platform to jointly pave the way towards the journey of technological development.
Minister for Science and Technology Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said ‘Think Future’ and ‘Made in Pakistan’ was the two-pronged approach of his ministry to translate research into products.
He said the country, which was importing equipment after detection of its first coronavirus case in February had achieved the capability of exporting PPEs (Personal Protective Equipment) within a few months.
He said precision agriculture, chemical replacement, and electronics were the next focus areas of the Ministry of Science and Technology.
Chaudhry Fawad stressed the need for bidding farewell to the ‘culture of banning’ of tech applications, journals, and books, and said focusing on counter-narrative would be more effective instead of trying to build narratives.
Coordinator General COMSTECH Prof. Dr. Iqbal Choudhary apprised the audience about the scope of the exhibition within the country and abroad.
Developers of artificial intelligence, academic policymakers, data analysts, and experts attended the event.

Sindh, Balochistan to benefit from integrated power plan

on 17/08/2020

The federal government has devised an integrated plan to generate 100,000MW by 2047 through indigenous resources to ensure energy security and boost industries.
Under the plan, the share of indigenous energy would be enhanced to 80 percent to get rid of expensive energy based on imported fuel.
Minister for Power Division Omar Ayub Khan said Renewable Energy (RE) policy has already been chalked out with the consultation of all stakeholders and it would now be placed before Council of Common Interests (CCI).
Sindh and Balochistan would be major beneficiaries as many solar and wind projects would be set up in these provinces, he said.
The energy projects would be set up in areas under the integrated program.
As per the minister, the policy targets increasing the share of alternative energy in the energy mix up to a level of 20 percent by 2025 and 30 percent by 2030.
Some 8000 MW would be added through RE by 2025 and its share would be increased to 30,000 MW by 2030. The government believes that the past governments signed agreements with power companies at high rates and these projects were mostly based on imported fuel resulting increase in tariff.
Unfortunately, the previous government generated expensive electricity through liquefied natural gas (LNG) and winded up many low-cost RE projects.
However, Omer said the incumbent government revived all RE projects to provide maximum relief to the consumers.
Regarding circular debt, the minister said circular debt had reached to Rs 450 billion during PML-N government and Rs39 billion per month was pilling up in it.
The PTI government successfully brought down it to Rs 12 billion per month, he added.
Omar Ayub said the previous government did not also enhance the power tariff despite NEPRA’s determination. This move was aimed at winning the general elections and continued power supply to loss-making feeders resulted in the piling up of Rs 200 billion in dues, he added.
Regarding investment in the transmission system, Omar Ayub said the government enhanced the transmission capacity by 5500 MW during the last two years. Owing to the up-gradation of transmission lines, now over 25000 MW could easily be transmitted. Earlier, the system could only transmit 18,000 MW, he added.
He said in past the NTDC 500 kV and 220 Kv always witnessed frequent tripping particularly in the winter season, however, not a single tripping incident occurred after upgrading the transmission system. He said Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government collected Rs 121 billion more revenue in the energy sector. Around 80 percent of feeders had already been cleared from power pilferage and efforts were being made to clear the remaining 20 percent.
He said various mega projects including Diamer Basha, Mohmand dams and other hydel projects have been started to get cheap hydel electricity

With Gwadar at top Balochistan under focus

on 17/08/2020

Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government has seemingly decided to give a push to development in Balochistan, recent decisions suggest. However, it is not clear if this would yield results as quite a few efforts in the past have fallen short of desired results in a province where the affairs are not in order for long.
This time, Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar has constituted two special committees to accomplish the task.
They will prepare a program on a fast-track basis for the development of Gwadar Port and other development projects of Balochistan.
Asad Umer who chaired a meeting in Islamabad to discuss various issues related to development work in Balochistan. He set up two special committees in the moot.
A full team including Minister for Maritime Affairs, Minister for Water Resources, Minister for Industries and Production, Minister for Information and Technology, Advisor to Prime Minister on Commerce, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission, Secretary Planning, and senior officials attended the meeting.
Umer told the moot that in the current fiscal year, the federal and provincial governments would spend a total of Rs200 billion on the development of Balochistan.
Of this amount, Rs118 billion will be spent under the Annual Development Plan (ADP) by the provincial government and Rs82 billion under federal the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP).
Of the two committees, one will be chaired by Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Dr Jehanzeb Khan, and the second one will be co-chaired by Maritime Affairs Minister Ali Zaidi, and Commerce Advisor Razak Dawood.
Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Jehanzeb Khan-led committee would make a plan for the development of Balochistan to improve service delivery in areas of water resources, roads, agriculture, tourism, energy, and infrastructure

will work out a plan for Gwadar development.
Reports said Assad Umer has tasked various government ministries to prepare a program on a fast-track basis for the development of Gwadar and Balochistan, particularly, southern Balochistan.
This special initiative for southern Balochistan is being taken up on the directives of the prime minister who wants urgent and tangible steps taken on priority to bring this under-developed part of Pakistan to a higher level of development.
Headed by Prime Minister Imran Khan, the National Development Council (NDC) on July 24th had tasked Asad Umar to develop the program in consultation with all the stakeholders.
The planning minister assured the provincial government that his ministry would release money for development projects.
Another report quoted Assad as saying that any plan made for the betterment of Balochistan would be finalized with prior consultation of all the stakeholders of the province.
It is the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan to provide better information technology and energy facilities to the people of Balochistan, and give priority to the weakest segment/areas of the country, said Asad Umar

Govt. Revealed The Policy For Alternative Energy

on 17/08/2020

The Government on Wednesday officially announced the Alternative and Renewable Energy (ARE) Policy 2020 that offersplentiful tax facilities to investorsand guarantees induction of power plants on open competitive bidding for lowest tariff and technology transfer.

Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry with Minister for Energy Omar Ayub Khan disclosed the strategy in a news conference, which was approved in a recent meeting of the Council of Common Interests. The meeting decided to increase share of ARE in total power supply to 20 per cent by 2025 and 30pc by 2030 from about 5pc at present.

He said hydropower will also be ready to work as an ARE class category under which its share would increase to 60pc of power generation by 2030. Combined with Thar coal and nuclear power, the total shareof power generation from indigenous sources would arrive at 75pc, he said.

Mr Khan believed the induction of power plants on open competitive bidding would cut down solar and wind tariff to under four pennies for every unit and eventually advantage the business and domestic investmentin localization of solar panels, wind turbines and related equipment and material.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Petroleum Nadeem Babar highlighted multiple features of ARE that were different from past policies. One is that it would be lowest in its cost. Second, there would be a meeting on annual or three-years terms, in which Federal government would decide the allocation of energy as per the requirement of the regions in the presence of all provinces, Azad Jammu & Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. Third is its low tariff which would motivate the local entrepreneurs to work in this sector.

He said that the custom duty will also be exempted on the import of equipment, machinery and manufacturing material. According to FawadChaudaryChinese companies were interested in relocation of their factories to Pakistan because of US-China trade war and the country was set to take a major benefit in the shape of manufacturing growth.

Engineers: Let’s Register Yourself

on 17/08/2020

Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) has decided to update the profile of ‘Professional’ and ‘Registered Engineers’ to update their profile. PEC will publish the list of registered engineers on its website (pec.org.pk). Engineers are advised to visit profile update portal (profileupdate.pec.org.pk) and update their profile along-with scanned copy of their valid CNIC.

Engineers are also instructed to renew their membership by paying Rs. 1,000/- valid upto 31 Dec 2020. Whereas, those engineers who have subscribed lifetimemembership but do not have card are also requested to apply for a card which is free of cost. For further details please visit the PEC website (www.pec.org.pk).