Why PhD Doctors are Unable to Contribute to Industrial Development in Pakistan??

Issues and Challenges

1. Disconnect Between Academia and Industry:

- Lack of Collaboration: Universities and industries in Pakistan operate in silos, with minimal collaboration. Research conducted in academia often focuses on theoretical outputs for publications rather than addressing industry-specific problems. Industries, on the other hand, prioritize market-oriented outcomes, creating a mismatch in objectives.

- Mismatch Between Curriculum and Industry Needs: Academic curricula are often outdated and do not align with the practical skills required by industries, such as those in biotechnology, IT, or textiles. This leaves PhD graduates unprepared for industrial roles.A study notes that 69% of Pakistani youth, including PhD scholars, feel confused about career paths due to a lack of industry-relevant training. Only 40 out of 90 research institutes in Pakistan are globally recognized, limiting their capacity to produce industry-relevant research.[](https://tribune.com.pk/story/2548847/why-pakistans-phds-are-failing-to-find-their-footing)[](https://academiamag.com/investment-in-research-rd-must-for-pakistan-to-shine/)

2. Insufficient Research and Development (R&D) Investment:

- Low Funding: Pakistan allocates only 0.63% of its GDP to R&D (highest in 2007), significantly lower than regional peers like India (0.85%) or developed nations. This restricts the scope and quality of research.[](https://stratheia.com/pakistans-innovation-gap-and-lack-of-interest-in-research-and-development/)[](https://tribune.com.pk/article/97206/how-a-lack-of-innovation-is-crippling-pakistans-economy)

- Lack of Private Sector Involvement: Unlike countries like the USA or China, where private corporations drive R&D, Pakistan’s industries invest minimally in research, relying instead on imported solutions.Pakistan ranks 87th out of 132 economies in the Global Innovation Index (2022), trailing behind India (46th) and Thailand (38th). From 1996 to 2017, Pakistan produced 127,817 published documents compared to India’s nearly 10 times higher output.[](https://stratheia.com/pakistans-innovation-gap-and-lack-of-interest-in-research-and-development/)[](https://academiamag.com/investment-in-research-rd-must-for-pakistan-to-shine/)

3. Cultural and Structural Barriers in Academia:

- Focus on Academic Publications: PhD scholars and professors are incentivized to publish papers for promotions rather than pursue applied research with industrial impact. This is exacerbated by a hierarchical academic culture that discourages critical thinking and innovation.[](https://www.scidev.net/global/opinions/why-pakistan-lags-behind-in-research/)

- Lack of Entrepreneurial Mindset: The education system emphasizes rote learning over creativity and problem-solving, stifling innovation and practical application of research.[](https://stratheia.com/pakistans-innovation-gap-and-lack-of-interest-in-research-and-development/)[](https://academiamag.com/investment-in-research-rd-must-for-pakistan-to-shine/). Between 2010 and 2014, Pakistan produced only 5,155 PhDs in public sector institutes and 381 in private institutes, indicating low output and limited focus on applied research.[](https://academiamag.com/investment-in-research-rd-must-for-pakistan-to-shine/)

4. Gender and Social Constraints:

- Gender Disparities: Women PhDs face systemic biases, including assumptions about their suitability for fieldwork or long-term careers, leading to underemployment or exclusion from industrial roles.[](https://tribune.com.pk/story/2548847/why-pakistans-phds-are-failing-to-find-their-footing)

- Social Barriers: Cultural constraints, particularly in rural areas, limit mobility and access to industrial opportunities, especially for women.Female participation in technical and vocational education is significantly lower than male participation, with cultural restrictions limiting women’s access to industrial roles.[](https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7099/10/7/153)

5. Inadequate Infrastructure and Resources:

- Outdated Facilities: Many universities and research institutes lack modern laboratories and equipment, hindering practical research.[](https://www.academia.edu/95175022/Developing_Linkage_Between_Universities_and_Industries_in_Pakistan)[](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/363004629_Emerging_Challenges_in_Technical_Vocational_Education_and_Training_of_Pakistan_in_the_Context_of_CPEC)

- Limited Industry Linkages: Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, meant to bridge academia and industry, suffer from outdated equipment and weak industry connections, resulting in a 60% unskilled or semi-skilled youth workforce.[](https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7099/10/7/153)[](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/363004629_Emerging_Challenges_in_Technical_Vocational_Education_and_Training_of_Pakistan_in_the_Context_of_CPEC). Only 11% of Pakistan’s education expenditure is allocated to development projects, with 89% spent on operational costs like salaries, limiting infrastructure improvements.[](https://ipripak.org/education-system-of-pakistan-issues-problems-and-solutions/)

6. Policy and Governance Issues:

- Lack of Clear Policy: The absence of a national policy to foster academia-industry linkages hampers collaboration.

- Bureaucratic Hurdles: Excessive paperwork and lack of incentives discourage universities and industries from collaborating.The Higher Education Commission (HEC) initiatives like the Technology Development Fund (TDF) exist, but their impact is limited due to poor implementation and lack of coordination.

7. Brain Drain and Underemployment:

- Brain Drain: Many PhD scholars seek opportunities abroad due to limited domestic prospects, reducing the talent pool available for industrial development.

- Underemployment: PhD graduates often end up in roles like teaching in schools, unrelated to their expertise, due to a lack of research-oriented jobs. Pakistan’s industrial base contributes only 20% to GDP, and the formal job market absorbs less than 10% of new entrants, leaving many PhDs underemployed.[](https://tribune.com.pk/story/2548847/why-pakistans-phds-are-failing-to-find-their-footing)

8. Weak Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Protection:

- Lack of Trust: Industries hesitate to collaborate with academia due to fears of intellectual property theft, as Pakistan’s IPR laws are weak and poorly enforced.[](https://stratheia.com/pakistans-innovation-gap-and-lack-of-interest-in-research-and-development/). Pakistan’s low ranking in innovation indices is partly attributed to inadequate IPR protection, discouraging investment in R&D.

Recommendations to Bridge the Gap

Immediate Recommendations (1-2 Years)

1. Establish Industry-Academia Liaison Offices:

- Create dedicated offices in universities, supported by the HEC, to facilitate collaboration with industries. These offices should identify industry needs, match them with academic expertise, and coordinate joint projects.Pilot these offices in major universities like NUST, LUMS, GIKI and UET Lahore, which already have some industry partnerships.

2. Incentivize Collaborative Research:

- Offer tax incentives and grants to industries that fund university research projects. The HEC’s Technology Development Fund (TDF) can be expanded to include more industries, such as textiles and pharmaceuticals.Allocate a portion of the science and technology budget joint R&D projects.[](https://www.dawn.com/news/1404297)

3. Revamp PhD Curricula:

- Introduce mandatory industry-oriented training in PhD programs, including skills like writing industrial proposals, project management, and communication with policymakers.[](https://tribune.com.pk/story/2548847/why-pakistans-phds-are-failing-to-find-their-footing). Partner with industries to design curricula that address real-world challenges, such as AI, energy or automotive engineering projects.[](https://tribune.com.pk/story/2548847/why-pakistans-phds-are-failing-to-find-their-footing)

4. Promote Gender-Inclusive Policies:

- Implement policies to encourage women PhDs to participate in industrial research, such as flexible work arrangements and targeted funding for women-led projects.Model programs after Germany’s dual education system, which integrates women into technical fields through practical training.[](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/387295753_Sustainable_Skill_Development_in_Pakistan_Bridging_Gaps_in_Vocational_and_Technical_Education_Policy_-A_Systematic_Literature_Review)

5. Enhance Digital Literacy and Entrepreneurship:

- Expand programs like DigiSkills.pk to train PhD scholars in digital tools and entrepreneurial skills, enabling them to contribute to industries like IT and e-commerce. Offer short-term certificate courses in collaboration with platforms like Coursera or local tech firms.

Long-Term Recommendations (5-10 Years)

1. Increase R&D Investment:

- Gradually increase R&D spending to at least 1.5% of GDP by 2030, aligning with regional averages. Encourage private sector contributions through public-private partnerships (PPPs).Establish a national R&D fund, modeled after Singapore’s SkillsFuture, to support innovative projects in fields like agriculture, biotechnology, AI, and green energy.

2. Strengthen Intellectual Property Rights:

- Reform IPR laws to align with international standards, ensuring robust protection for innovations. This will build industry trust and encourage investment in collaborative research.Create an IPR enforcement agency to monitor and protect patents, drawing lessons from India’s progress in this area.

3. Develop Industrial PhD Programs:

- Introduce industrial PhD programs, similar to those in Europe, where scholars work on industry-specific problems during their studies, gaining both academic and practical experience.Partner with industries like textiles (which contribute 60% to exports) to fund PhD projects addressing sector-specific challenges, such as sustainable production.

4. Modernize Research Infrastructure:

- Invest in state-of-the-art laboratories and equipment in universities and research institutes to support applied research.Allocate 20% of education development funds to infrastructure upgrades, prioritizing fields like IT, Agriculture and pharmaceuticals.

5. Foster a Research Culture:

- Reform the academic promotion system to reward applied research and industry impact alongside publications. Encourage critical thinking and innovation through curriculum changes at all educational levels.Introduce teacher training programs to promote hands-on learning and problem-solving, inspired by Australia’s competency-based training model.[](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/387295753_Sustainable_Skill_Development_in_Pakistan_Bridging_Gaps_in_Vocational_and_Technical_Education_Policy_-A_Systematic_Literature_Review)

6. Expand TVET and Industry Linkages:

- Strengthen Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) by integrating industry feedback into curricula and providing hands-on training opportunities.Establish industry-led TVET councils to ensure alignment with market needs, particularly for CPEC projects.[](https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7099/10/7/153)

7. Address Brain Drain:

- Create attractive career paths for PhD scholars through government-backed research institutes and industry partnerships, reducing the incentive to seek opportunities abroad.Offer competitive salaries and research grants, modeled after China’s approach to retaining talent.

Expected Outcomes

- Economic Impact: Increased academia-industry collaboration will boost innovation in key sectors like textiles (8.5% of GDP), Agriculture, IT and pharmaceuticals, enhancing export competitiveness

- Employment: Industry-relevant PhD training will reduce underemployment, with potential to absorb more than 10% of new workforce entrants into formal jobs.[](https://tribune.com.pk/story/2548847/why-pakistans-phds-are-failing-to-find-their-footing)

- Innovation: Higher R&D investment and stronger IPR protection will improve Pakistan’s Global Innovation Index ranking, fostering a knowledge-based economy.

- Gender Equity: Inclusive policies will increase women’s participation in industrial research, contributing to human capital development.