Punjab University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran said that the government must allocate at least four per cent of GDP to education to eradicate illiteracy and for the development of the country.
He was addressing a seminar held at Punjab University Al-Raazi Hall on Thursday. The event was jointly organised by Punjab University and Rotary Club of Lahore Canal to mark World Literacy Day.
On this occasion, Punjab Libraries Director General Dr Zahiruddin Babar, Head of Rotary International Pakistan Chair Saeed Shamsi, Rotary Club of Lahore Canal President Syed Shahbaz Bukhari, former District Governor Sajid Pervaiz Bhatti, Tax Bar Association President Farhan Shahzad, LCWU Director Dr Afifa, Assistant Prof Sonia Omer, faculty members and a large number of students were present.
Addressing the ceremony, Dr Kamran said the Muslims were facing problems in the world due to ignorance and their distance from knowledge. He said we had not realised that the 750 verses of Holy Quran, which is 1/8th part of the Holy Book, stressed to focus on resolving the mysteries of the universe.
He said that America’s GDP was around $18 trillion and it spent two to 2.7 per cent i.e. $360-540 billion on research and development per year while Pakistan had a GDP of around $250 billion only and was spending only 0.1 or 0.2 per cent on research and development per year.
Addressing the seminar, Libraries Director General Dr Babar said the number of persons visiting public libraries in Punjab were increasing day by day and now around 600-650 persons visite each public library a day.
Rotary International Pakistan’s Literacy Chair’s Chairman Shamsi said that four friends had founded Rotary International in 1905 for the welfare and development of society and now it had 1.2 million members in 200 countries. He said that unfortunately, because of ignorance and illiteracy in Pakistan, polio could not be eradicated from the country.
Rest 96% on spreading terrorism?
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