Saturday, May 12, 2012

Investment in education must for progress: Shahbaz

* Punjab CM urges students to use laptops for research work

* Announces Rs 2.2 million grant for construction of hostel at FJWU

RAWALPINDI: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Friday said that no country in the world could move on the road of progress, prosperity and development without investing in the education sector.
Addressing a laptop distribution ceremony at the Fatima Jinnah Women University (FJWU), he said, “We have to invest a huge amount in the education sector to move on the road of progress, prosperity and development, as no nation can attain glory without focusing and investing in this sector.”
He distributed laptops among 25,000 students on the occasion. “Students are the future and real asset of Pakistan. The young generation is our asset and the country’s future is in their hands. So they have to focus on studies to make it Quaid and Iqbal’s Pakistan,” he added.
He said that information technology libraries had been established in 4,300 schools across the province.
He urged students to use laptops for research work. “I am hoping that in the future students will tell me through their computers that they have devised a strategy to take the country’s industry and agriculture forward.”
He said the government was well aware of the needs of modern times, which was evident from that fact that it was equipping students with modern technology.
Shahbaz said laptops had been distributed among students throughout the province purely on merit. “There is total transparency in the distribution of laptops and criticism for the sake of criticism was unjustified.”
He said the provincial government would send talented and bright students abroad for higher education under the Endowment Fund of the Punjab Education Foundation.
The CM said the Punjab government had allocated Rs 10 billion for the fund, which would help assist deserving students in getting higher education in their respective fields. Around 3,000 bright students would be sent aboard for higher education.
He said that 300,000 computers would be given to students next year. He said the FJWU was providing education facilities to around 5,000 students from 89 districts. He also announced Rs 2.2 million for the construction of university hostel. The CM also announced to handover CMW building to be used as a hostel.
He said that around 65 percent of the population consisted of younger generation, and PML-N was focusing on addressing their problems on priority. The chief minister also announced air-conditioned bus service in Rawalpindi as being operated in Lahore. app

Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk

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