THIS refers to the advertisement (Aug 30) regarding `commercialisation of viable products` This is indeed a good initiative for researchers and entrepreneursfor projects of common interest for the rest of three provinces, including Azad Jammu and Kasmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, in the areas of energy, environment, agriculture, food and health, as well as in other allied projects, directly or indirectly contributing to the economic uplift of Pakistan.

I would also urge the directorate of science and technology of other entities of Pakistan to take similar steps so that a competition at the country level can be generated.

After selection of researchers by the directorate ofscience and technology (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), the remaining group of researchers can be hired by Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan.

This will create healthy competition among all federating units in the field of research and entrepreneurship.Thereis a dire needforenhancingcollaboration among academia and industries so that upgradation and modification of new equipment and machinery can be achieved by replacingredundant and obsolete machinery and equipment, thus boosting production at an international level.

I commend the efforts of students of one of the institutions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, who developed a drone and successfully demonstrated their requisite parameters.The batch of students must be encouraged by both federal and provincial governments by awarding cash prizes in addition to the expenditure incurred on the project .

As a result, this will generate competition among all universities of Pakistan.

I also request the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan to arrange exhibition of products of all universities countrywide and also select products for export.

R.R.A.

Wah Cantt