CM Punjab reviews measures for promotion of higher education in universities

Additional classrooms will be constructed at a cost of billions of rupees: CM Shehbaz

Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif presided over a high-level meeting which reviewed measures for promotion of higher education in universities of the province. Higher Education Secretary gave a detailed briefing on the occasion.

Addressing the meeting, the chief minister said that education is the key to success and a bright future for the country and all out measures have been taken for the promotion of education in the province. He said that research and development is of vital importance in education sector, therefore, due attention to this sector in universities is the need of the hour. He said that it is time to work actively for developing universities as centers of knowledge in the real sense. Sharif said that Punjab government is attaching top priority to development of educational sector and promotion of latest knowledge and all out resources are being utilised for this purpose. He said that record funds have been allocated for education sector. He said that there is a need to work with commitment for promoting research and development in universities so that students after completing their studies could prove their talent in the country as well as abroad. He said that research and development can be promoted through coordination between agriculture, industries and livestock sectors. Provincial Minister Begum Zakia Shahnawaz, Additional Chief Secretary, Secretary Higher Education, Punjab Higher Education Commission Chairman and concerned secretaries attended the meeting.

Sharif also presided over a high-level meeting today to review ‘Khadim-e-Punjab Schools Programme’ for construction of additional classrooms in schools. He also gave approval to include Smart Schools Programme in this programme. Addressing the meeting, he said that in the first phase, 10,227 additional classrooms will be constructed at a cost of Rs 16 billion during current fiscal year under Khadim-e-Punjab Schools Programme. These classrooms will be constructed in a total of 5,834 schools. He said that in the first phase, additional classrooms will be constructed in the schools of southern Punjab. He said that 1,401 additional classrooms will be constructed in Dera Ghazi Khan with a cost of more than Rs 2 billion. Sharif said that male and female students will get more facilities with the construction of additional classrooms which will leave a positive impact on education sector.

The CM said that students will be taught with the help of modern technology through smart schools and LED screens which will be installed in classrooms, while tablets will also be given to the teachers under this programme. He said that teachers training centers will also be digitalised gradually. The CM said that Punjab government has made promotion of education its foremost priority and revolutionary programmes have been started for promotion of quality education. Communication and Works Secretary gave a briefing on Khadim-e-Punjab Schools Programme. Provincial Ministers Tanvir Aslam Malik, Rana Mashhood Ahmad, Chief Secretary, Communication and Works Secretary, Nespak MD and concerned authorities attended the meeting.