KARACHI:Chancellor Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET), Jawaid Anwar has said that Pakistan should adopt the self-reliance policy to boost its economy.
“After so many decades, we are still unable to make even an engine of a car in Pakistan. We preferred to buy the finished products but avoided to manufacture it in the country. Imports increased immensely but we failed to design a strategy for balancing it with exports, he said while addressing a press conference jointly organized by SSUET and DICE Foundation at the campus that was also attended by Vice Chancellor SSUET, Prof. Dr. Vali Uddin, Registrar SSUET, Syed Sarfraz Ali, Chair Dice Foundation, Dr. Khurshid Qureshi, President DICE Foundation, Saad Elahi, Vice Admiral (R) Arifullah Hussaini, and others. A large number of media persons were present on the occasion.
He said that DICE Foundation is working in collaboration with its domestic and international partners. Idea behind DICE is to motivate culture of creativity and entrepreneurship in our country and transform Pakistan into innovation-driven economy. DICE Automotive is also to bring industry, academia, alumni, stakeholders and students community at one platform.
Automotive relates to vehicle and includes all aspects of automotive technology. DICE Automotive encourages and promotes automotive related innovations to transform efforts of participants into commercial product and services that can create an economic resource-base for our country as a whole. DICE has put a car, designed by Pakistanis, on display.
Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Vali Uddin said that expatriate Pakistanis are living a happy and soothing life abroad, yet they have an urge to work for the prosperity of Pakistan. The role of universities are not limited to the imparting knowledge only. Today universities work in collaboration with other organizations in different projects.
Dr. Khurshid Qureshi, Founder and Chair of DICE Foundation, said that DICE has brought innovative culture in Pakistan. Using innovation as tool, we can put our country on the path of prosperity. DICE Foundation is a volunteer based organization run jointly by expatriates and thought leaders within Pakistan. DICE has established innovation platforms in the major strategic areas in Pakistan such as textile, health, automotive, IT, energy and water and creative art and media. DICE organized a health programme recently where around 300 innovative projects were presented among which many grabbed the opportunity of funding by the industry. DICE has established National Innovative Basket that has 100 mega projects. The first phase of Pakistan made car is complete and next physical phase is due to start. This car will be completed within 3 years.
Saad Elahi, President DICE, said that we continue to believe that focusing on Pakistan’s youth and creating a culture of innovation, entrepreneurship and indigenous product development is the best way to help prepare Pakistan for growth and prosperity. Thousands of cars are being manufactured for years but we didn’t learn the tricks of trade. We should start learning the technology of electric car from now. Good economy will provide jobs to the people.
Vice Admiral (R) Arifullah Hussaini, also spoke on the occasion. The press conference was concluded by the question-answer session and then the journalists were taken to the venue where the car designed by expatriate Pakistanis was put on display.