News
Sunday, November 18, 2012
PM to increase funds to boost literacy rate
* Raja says time to confront each other on petty issues is over
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on Saturday urged all stakeholders to join hands and work unitedly and sincerely for improving literacy rate in the country.
He said that the government would extend full financial cooperation in this regard.
He was addressing a function at Sultana Foundation. The PM laid the foundation of Justice Yousuf Saraf Centre for Research, Rehabilitation and Mainstreaming Children and praised the support and cooperation of philanthropists for this noble project.
He said the country is facing challenges but all these could be sorted out by evolving national consensus. He said, “The time has come that all the decisions should be taken through consensus as the dividends of national consensus introduced by the present government, have started paying yield.”
Raja said time has come to take decisions with dedication, sincerity, and commitment and beyond any prejudice without wasting the time.
The premier said the time to confront each other on petty issues was over, therefore everyone should join hand to work for the progress and prosperity of the country.
The prime minister said, “We should rise above caste, creed and sectarian differences and stand united to confront the challenges, being faced by the country and to find solution of each and every problem.” “Every thing is possible in Pakistan but there is a need to change the attitude of the people, politicians, and every member of the society,” he added.
He said a handful of misguided elements couldn’t dictate their terms to the majority of Pakistan who are peaceful and wanted to have development and progress in the country. He said, “Pakistan is blessed with natural resources, different types of weather, committed, hard work and sincere work-force and by exploiting them, we can transform the country into a prosperous country.”
Paying rich tributes to the welfare services of Sultana Foundation, he said those working for the welfare of humanity are the asset of the nation. He asked Sultana Foundation to enter into a public-private partnership for operating schools in Islamabad and other far-flung areas of the country. The PM said, “Youth are asset and collective efforts will be made for their welfare, to impart best possible education and other facilities.”
Raja said youth of the country would be equipped with education. He said the youth of Pakistan needed right direction so as to utilise their true potential.
He also has assured that the government would increase the budget of education to increase the literacy rate in the country. He said although under the 18th Amendment, education has been devolved to the provinces but the federal government would continue to play its role for promotion of education.
The premier said efforts are being made to improve the standard of education at Islamabad schools.
He announced Rs 50 million for the foundation to complete its new project.
In his address, Sultana Foundation Chairman Dr Naeem Ghani, who spent 25 years in Saudi Arabia, highlighted the aims and objectives of the project.
He said about 6,000 students are getting education from this institution which was being run by the philanthropists including Farooq Hameed and Tahira Farooq from Canada and many others.
Dr Aziz Alvi, director of the project, explained the salient features of the new project where students will be given formal and informal teaching facilities. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk