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Pakistan's prime minister, Mian Nawaz Sharif, last month announced plans for a 1 billion rupee (US$23 million) investment in science and technology. The announcement was made on the first anniversary of Pakistan's nuclear tests.

About half the money is expected to be spent on research and research infrastructure, including scholarships for 300 additional PhD students in Pakistani universities, and for 100 students to be sent overseas. The remaining funds will be spent on science education.

Sharif has pledged to provide a science teacher for every government school, and has promised to set up polytechnics in each of the country's administrative divisions. The government will also set up a committee to recommend ways of giving more autonomy to research institutions.

“One year ago we broke the shackles of dependence on foreign technology and conducted successful nuclear tests,” said Sharif. “We should now focus our attention on making Pakistan an economic power.”

The initiatives are the most comprehensive and ambitious that Pakistan has seen for a decade. They have also come as a surprise for many in Pakistan's science community because the present Muslim League government — like its predecessor — had previously shown little interest in science.

Many scientists are uncertain whether the funds will materialize, as similar promises were not honoured in the past. But one senior scientist says he believes this initiative is different, as it originates from the prime minister's circle of close advisers, rather than from the science ministry.