Addressing the inaugural ceremony of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) app for apple IOS and its upgraded website on Saturday, Minister for science and technology said that the government is making earnest efforts to revive the manufacturing sector as it was necessary for economic revitalization.
The manufacturing activities have brought about a lot of positive results including creation of new employment opportunities, said Chaudhry. Though Pakistan imported ventilators during the first wave of Covid19, it is now one of the 18 countries in the world that is manufacturing ventilators, he added.
He further stated that it was important to keep up with the technological advancements besides observing which businesses have a good scope in the market and which ones are outdated. He also stressed on importance of 5G technology and the need for a stable internet connection to benefit from technological advancements.
The Minister stated that the future of the country was linked to technology and also emphasized the importance of merging technology with biotechnology.
Farms for cannabis production are being established in Jhelum, Peshawar, Chakwal and Islamabad, stated Chaudhry. Cannabis is going to act as cotton’s substitute and its production would greatly benefit Pakistan’s economy, he added.
Chaudhry mentioned how Pakistan had one of the most profitable automobile policies for electric vehicles. In the near future, electric vehicles will hold a major market share in the main cities of Pakistan and they will definitely help reduce environmental pollution, he remarked.
The Minister also announced the establishment of a manufacturing plant for dialysis equipment in Pakistan by a leading global company in the coming years.
He criticized how the power generations plants were set up without any groundwork previously which resulted in the government paying half the price of electricity even after the hike in power tariff.
Manufacturing Sector and Environmental Problems
Achieving rapid industrialization has been the current government’s primary goal. Pakistan’s manufacturing sector which contributes to 18.5% of GDP has recently seen a growth of 11.4% in Dec’20 compared to the same month the previous year. Though the economy of high consumerism has supported the growth of industry, it has also contributed to global warming.
As output increases, so does the environmental damage caused by the manufacturing sector. This is why it is important for the manufacturers to adopt measures that contribute to overall sustainability by using environment friendly production processes. Transitioning away from the practices established by decades of industrial development may be a difficult task but it would help in ensuring a safe and healthy environment not only now, but for generations to come.
There a number of steps that manufacturers can take towards reducing their carbon footprints. They can help lower CO2 emissions by diligently minimizing the environmental impact of a product across its entire lifecycle, from material extraction and supply to the end of its life.
Design engineers can also act in accordance with the principle of eco-design by keeping in mind factors such as the amount of energy and materials consumed in production, or how the product and its manufacturing byproducts might affect biodiversity.
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Concerns regarding plastic pollution have resulted in consumers demanding more environmentally friendly alternatives. Therefore, the packaging industry of Pakistan should gradually shift to biopolymers/biodegradable polymers which are designed to replace traditional, petroleum-based plastics in such applications as beverage bottles and ready-made meal packaging.
Through policy and the improvement of new technologies, the impact of the industry on the environment can eventually be identified and curbed. Using energy responsibly and encouraging the use of sustainable and renewable sources is essential if we want to protect the plant for future generations.