ISLAMABAD: The battery life of the newly-modified electronic voting machine (EVM) has been extended from 24 hours to 72 hours and the device can now drop the ballot paper for the voter into the ballot box automatically, Minister for Science and Technology Shibli Faraz told Dawn in an interview on Friday.

“Now the device also allows the voter a second chance to tick the party sign before casting vote,” he said, describing the EVM as user friendlier than the previous prototypes.

These modifications were made to pacify critics who continued to oppose the use of technology in the electoral process. However, the minister stressed that utilising technology was the way forward to make the electoral process fair and transparent which in the past had been marred with allegations of rigging.

“There was a flaw in the policy. Now we only recognise and patronise applied and need-based research and solutions to problems facing the country. If it cannot happen it is not research,” Mr Faraz added.

Says device allows voter a second chance to tick party symbol, battery life extended from 24 to 72 hours

The development of minimum standardisation of products to ensure export potential through a national quality policy was among priority areas. This required upgrading departments and labs under the ministry besides complete automation of Pakistan Standard and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) and reviving the National Institute of Electronics (NIE) that is now moving on self-sustainable model. For the first time in the last 50 years, the ministry finalised rules for Pakistan Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR).

A regulatory framework was also developed for startups to promote the spirit of entrepreneurship among youngsters.

Mr Faraz said his office also revisited the National Science and Technology Policy 2021 which had failed twice in 1984 and then in 2009 due to lack of implementation tools and action plans.

“This time around, we have merged emerging technologies and civilian R&D with defence to encourage resource sharing. In the past, organisations were functioning in silos,” Mr Faraz said.

In the last few months, the science ministry had realigned its R&D priority for enhancing technology driven import substitution and exports to boost economic activity. Besides supplementing cotton, the hemp initiative was expected to be one of its kind projects in generating FDI and made-in-Pakistan products, Mr Faraz claimed.

“In the global market, medicinal and industrial hemp is expected to reach $100 billion in 2026. In the next two years, we are looking at some 35,000 job creations, exporting 26 products such as CBD oil derived from hemp for a share in international market worth $3 billion to $5 billion,” he said.

To instill love for learning and foster curiosity among little learners in the last three months, the ministry introduced science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

“STEM activities will reach another 350 elementary schools in the future,” the minister said.

“The ministry is taking lead and acting as an engine to pull the entire economic development of the country. We cannot rely on the textile industry alone,” Mr Faraz added.

While the country struggled with the energy crisis, Mr Faraz said for the first time his office was trying to address and manage demand for electricity and gas.

According to the minister, the demand for power in winters was 8,000 megawatts on average and in summers 24,000 megawatts. Nearly 16,000 MW was used for cooling.

“We identified that 10 million outdated fans were in use. The federal cabinet has now approved inclusion of fans in the PSQCA mandatory list. With the retrofitting of existing installed conventional ceiling fans of 120 watts with the efficient ones of 50-60 watts, about 3,000 MW peak load demand can be reduced.”

He said the country could save 3,000 MW to 4,000 MW only if all the fans were of specific standard. “So we are planning to buy back all the fans and sell new technology-efficient fans on subsidised prices,” he said, while elaborating on the potential to export fans to Africa and South Africa.

Similarly, water pumps in use today consumed three times more amperes. “Some 6,000 to 7,000 MW can be reduced without compromising on quality by improving new technologies in just these two items,” he said.

Likewise, currently five million plus gas geysers in use are heavy on consumption.

“The new geysers fitted with conical baffles will reduce gas bills by 25pc. These efficient geysers will come fitted with new operating pilot system that would be easier to use and will be 66pc more energy efficient,” he said.

Mr Faraz said how special attention was paid on the revival of the Halal Food Authority which was established in 2016 but remained non-functional. He lamented that international halal food market was worth $700 billion and would touch $1 trillion by 2030 while Pakistan did not have a share in it.

He also lamented that the participation of Pakistan’s engineering goods in export basket was roughly one per cent, same as Vietnam’s in 1996.

“While their exports have reached $216bn, composition of Pakistan’s engineering goods is still the same. In 2021, only 20 patents were granted to Pakistan compared to 641 of Indonesia, 2,301 of Turkey, 3,294 of Iran and 4,988 of India.”

However, the biggest challenge for the ministry had been increasing the budget for research and development. The budget has now been increased from 0.29pc to 0.8pc (Rs4bn) of the gross domestic product (GDP).

Mr Faraz said the budget was still pittance and the ministry needed about Rs10bn.

Published in Dawn, January 1st, 2022