Islamabad, Jul 28 (IANS): Despite the considerable hype over a car in Pakistan running on water, a Pakistani daily cautioned that it is always better to wait until all tests are complete before one comes up with a declaration about a scientific discovery.
An editorial in the Dawn Saturday said this wasn't the first time a local version of a car purportedly run on water was being displayed in Pakistan.
"Like every other part of the world, the country has had its share of dreamers run on a desire to replace the current automobile with one that moves either exclusively on water or on a mix of water with a variation of oil," it said.
The editorial said that it was the presence of Religious Affairs Minister Khurshid Shah at the preview of the new water-run model that lifted the event from being "just an ordinary show of laudable intent into a celebrated launch the government was willing to place its faith in".
Describing it as a rare occurrence, the daily said that it was "a brave show by a government whose previous flirtation with energy matters has only fuelled criticism".
Another minister, for science and technology, called it a gift to the nation to mark the upcoming 65th anniversary of independence. He announced all required tests would be completed in the next two weeks.
The editorial said: "It is a test previous such models have failed to pass, unfortunately."
"The details of these failed experiments will make a thick book full of technical jargon but one old point these experiences reiterate is that it is always better to wait until you are done before you come up with a declaration about a scientific discovery. The experiment may take two weeks or two years or two decades, and as yet lead to nothing new, necessitating a fresh trial altogether," it added.