News
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Pakistan’s focus on education is key to progress: HaqqaniWASHINGTON: Education is of key focus in Islamabad’s broad policy framework, aimed at long-term progress and prosperity of the country, Pakistani Ambassador to the US Hussain Haqqani said on Friday.
“This focus will help greatly in promoting peace and socio-political coherence in society as well as eradicating violent extremism from the Pakistani soil,” he said. The ambassador was speaking at a conference on education at the Capitol Hill, organised by a renowned non-government organisation, ‘Children Uniting Nations’.
Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, also attended the conference. In his speech, Haqqani said less than one percent of the amount spent on global defence would be enough to put every child into school. The government has formulated education plans, both at the school and higher levels, he added.
“By embarking on mainstream educational reforms, the government plans to achieve economic development across the board and empower people at the grassroots. Towards this end, initiatives are being taken by the provinces through encouragement of public-private partnership, “ Haqqani said.
Citing a study by the Brookings Institution, Ambassador Haqqani said, “As educational attainment of a society increases, its susceptibility to conflict and violence decreases.” Similarly, he said, an increase of one year of schooling is estimated to reduce the risk of conflict by nearly four percent.
In her remarks, Speaker Pelosi appreciated the work being done in Pakistan and other parts of the world in the field of education. Other participants included the first ladies of Capvert and Rwanda and ambassadors of Malaysia and Cameroon. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk