Biotechnology scope in Pakistan
A Brief Introduction
Biotechnology is the application of scientific knowledge, techniques, and processes to the fields of medicine, healthcare, agriculture, and environmental protection. With an increase in life expectancy and population growth, biotechnology has become a key driver for economic development in Pakistan.
Biotechnology is a relatively new field with many opportunities for innovation. Biotechnology is being applied to improve public health in developing countries by providing affordable medicines and vaccines. Biotech firms are also working on ways to make crops more resistant to diseases and pests as well as improve their nutritional value.
The Biotechnology scope in Pakistan is very wide due to its applications in agriculture, medical sciences, and environmental protection. There are many opportunities for innovation that can help address some of the major challenges faced by Pakistan like food security, water scarcity, energy crisis, etc.
Biotechnology scope in Pakistan
Biotech is an industry in which Pakistan has seen growth in recent years. There are many biotech companies operating in Pakistan and the research institutions are also working on improving the quality of life for people. Biotech companies in Pakistan are increasing at a slow pace but the trend is positive and the government has provided some incentives for biotech companies as well. Since 1994, various research institutes and academic programs have been established and funded nationwide as a result of Pakistan’s long-standing policy to adopt biotechnology.
Biotech Industry and Pakistan’s Economy
Pakistan has the potential to become a hub for biotechnology and is already seeing some success in this sector. The biotech industry could become one of the fastest growing industries in Pakistan due to arising issues of food shortage, and adverse climate change impact on the agriculture sector.
The biotech industry contributes about 1% to Pakistan’s total employment. Biotechnology is not a new venture in Pakistan, with early pioneering work occurring in the 1970s. The government of Pakistan started supporting the biotech industry in 1980 with a $2 million grant to the University of Karachi for establishing an incubator for start-ups. In 1981, a tax rebate was granted for local companies involved in the relevant activities.
Pakistani Scientists’ contribution to Biotech
Biotech has a promising future in Pakistan. Biotech companies in Pakistan are making significant contributions to the global biomedical industry. And they’re not just focused on pharmaceuticals, but also on medical devices, diagnostics, and other areas of biotechnology as well.
Government initiative in the biotech field.
Following are the excerpts of the news from ‘Pakistan Biotechnology Information Center’:
Initiatives proposed for the fiscal year 2022-23 in the agriculture sector include corporate agriculture farming, deceleration of FMD Free Zones and local production of FMD vaccines, and mechanization harvesting and post-harvesting processes.
Pakistan Develops New Soybean Line to Reduce Imports.
Pak-China Cooperation in Bio Health Agriculture to Enhance Wheat Production.
How is Biotechnology Changing Agriculture in Pakistan?
Agriculture is the backbone of any economy. In Pakistan, it is a significant contributor to GDP, employment, and exports. However, the sector faces challenges like climate change, water scarcity, and population growth.
Biotechnology in agriculture has been one of the most promising fields in recent years. It can provide solutions to these issues by increasing crop yields and reducing agricultural costs. New genetically modified crops have been shown to be more resistant to disease, pests, and environmental threats. The use of biotechnology in agriculture has been growing over the last few decades because it offers a range of benefits such as increased crop yields, reduced labor requirements, and improved resource efficiency.
BS Biotechnology scope in Pakistan
Biotechnology is a broad field and there are many different career paths that you can take. Some people choose to work in research (which is a significant part of making progress in the field of Biotechnology), others work in marketing, production, or even education. Whatever your path may be, BS biotechnology graduates have many opportunities to choose from.
The field is expected to grow by 12% annually until 2025 in Pakistan, making it an attractive career option for many students.
Following are some of the Universities in Pakistan offering a 4-year BS Biotechnology in Pakistan:
- National University Of Science & Technology, Islamabad
- Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad
- DOW University of Health Sciences, Karachi
- University of Karachi
- Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Institute Of Science & Technology, Karachi
- Kinnaird college for women, Lahore
- University of Punjab, Lahore
- The Superior university, Lahore
- University of Management and Technology, Lahore.
Conclusion
Pakistan, with a population North of 250 million is at crossroads due to a booming population, climate change, food shortage, and unfavorable balance of trade. The need for time is to invest heavily in the field of biotechnology to overcome the shortage of food grains by developing suitable crops in accordance with the climate changes, improve the medical facilities to have a larger than before workforce, and reduce the reliance on import of food grains because we are not self-sufficient despite being an agricultural country.
