Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said the goal of progress and prosperity of Pakistan depends upon free and quality education and in view of this fact, Punjab government is extending modern educational facilities to every child in the province so that no one is deprived of education due to poverty and lack of resources. He said the government is attaching top priority to promotion of education and has invested in students so that Pakistan could develop and prosper and an able and competent leadership could be available to the country.
He expressed these views while addressing the concluding ceremony of a two-day seminar on education at a local hotel on Tuesday. The seminar was arranged with the collaboration of USAID, Punjab Information Technology Board, Ali Institute and other institutions. The CM said the Punjab government was focusing on provision of educational facilities to every child without any discrimination and under this policy, Daanish schools had been established in the backward areas of the province. He said Daanish schools were resulting in provision of quality education to the poor, underprivileged and orphan children who were also given parental love and affection.
He said in the past, no poor child could even think of enrolling in educational institutions of the elite and these institutions were engaged in maintaining the rule of vaderas, feudal and other such classes. He said Punjab government had set up schools for the children of cultivators, cab drivers, cart pushers and the poor for ensuring a bright future to them and has set up such institutional system which could also produce leadership for the country.
Shahbaz further said knowledge was the legacy of Islam which through giving the lesson of ‘Iqra’ to its followers proved the importance of education.
He said Punjab government was providing vocational training to 17 thousand selected youths in 35 different trades in Southern Punjab and in view of its importance, this programme was also being launched at provincial level so that youths could get rid of poverty and unemployment by learning technical skills. Earlier, renowned British educationist Sir Michael Barber, George Trington and Saif Hameed also addressed the function. During his address, Sir Michael Barber declared that the CM was very courageous.
