Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that provincial government is paying special attention to the provision of quality education at school level and implementation on the comprehensive project of school reforms roadmap is continuing in the province with the cooperation of international donor agencies.
He was presiding over a high level meeting held with regard to reviewing the progress of roadmap of ongoing educational reforms at school level in the province.
Provincial Minister for Education Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, Member National Assembly Saira Afzal Tarrar, Punjab Education Foundation Chairman Raja Anwar, prominent British Educationist Sir Michael Barber, representatives of international donors’ agencies, finance, school education, literacy secretaries, directorate of staff development and other officers concerned attended the meeting. The CM during the meeting telephoned the Executive District Officer (Education) of District Khushab Mian Muhammad Ismail and especially congratulated him for showing best performance throughout the province in achieving the targets of school reforms programme.
The Chief Minister informed the meeting that the Transparency International through a letter has termed the process of purchase of laptops by the Punjab government for the brilliant students a very transparent and according to rules.
He said that provincial government had ensured recruitment of 70,000 school teachers on merit and talent due to which best teachers would be available to the students and the recruitment of science teachers will help in promoting awareness regarding modern science and technology among the students.
Shahbaz said Punjab Examination Commission had helped in adopting uniformed method of examination besides preparing results of primary and middle examinations on time. He said constant improvement in examination results of Punjab Examination Commission was a clear proof of its performance. The CM directed that the NGOs associated with promotion of education and social workers should be included in the process of enrollment campaign in the schools and the Ulema of Auqaf Department should inform the people about the importance of education through the platform of mosques.
Separately, Shahbaz said a modern slaughter house had been set up in Shahpur Kanjran with the collaboration of Punjab and brotherly Islamic country Iran. He said the project was a unique example with regard to standard and transparency. Modern machinery and technology had been installed in this state of the art slaughter house, he added. He said this project will help provide quality, hygienic and cheaper meat to the citizens besides increasing exports of the country. He said the production capacity of livestock of the Punjab will also be enhanced due to this modern slaughter house.
Sharif said poverty and unemployment could be eliminated by promoting livestock besides strengthening the economy on strong footings. He said that Punjab government has adopted a comprehensive strategy for promotion of livestock in the province and setting up of modern slaughter house in provincial metropolis is a part of that strategy. He said that no political interference will be tolerated in operating slaughter house and it will be outsourced completely. While constituting a committee for this purpose, he directed that this committee should take steps for completing the process of outsourcing at the earliest.
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