Ahsan for need-based education to tackle modern-day challenges

Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal said that whatever is being taught in our educational institutes and whatever research work is being conducted should be according to need of the day.

He was addressing the concluding ceremony of 4th International Conference on Research in Education at Faisal Auditorium on Friday. PU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran, Vice Chancellor University of Education Prof Dr Rauf-e-Azam, Dean Faculty of Education Prof Dr Mumtaz Akhtar, Conference Secretary Prof Dr Abid Hussain Chaudhry, Prof Dr Rifaqat Ali, Prof Dr Rizwan Akram, Dr Abdul Qayyum Chaudhry, delegates from various parts of country and the world and a large number of students were present on the occasion.

Ahsan Iqbal said that we were passing through the era of knowledge revolution and if we did not change ourselves with the changing time, we would meet our end. He said that we must explore new horizons of knowledge and must see how we could utilise knowledge according to our needs. He said that our youth must believe in their abilities and Pakistan because our country was progressing rapidly. He said that our universities must find out solutions to the problems being faced by all sections of the society.

The federal minister said that cut and paste knowledge was responsible for our destruction, and added that we were deciding 6 new standards for evaluating universities i.e standard of education, standard of research, academia-industry linkages, university’s contribution towards community, relationship between learning and technology and how socially responsible the university product was and creation of entrepreneurship opportunities. He said that 11 thousand megawatt electricity would be added to the system in the next two years.

Later, talking to media, Ahsan Iqbal said that outgoing Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif would be remembered as one of the greatest commanders of army in the history.

To a question, he said that the difference between General Musharraf and General Raheel Sharif was that the former violated constitution and is now facing downfall while the latter upheld law and reached new heights.