LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar said on Wednesday that reforming the education sector is the top-most priority of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government.
“We have sufficiently enhanced the educational budget to achieve this target and in the current fiscal year, as much as Rs.373 billion have been allocated for the education sector,” he said while speaking to different delegations at his office.
Keeping in view the distinctive importance of the education sector for national development and prosperity, the government has given particular attention to developing it on modern lines, the chief minister said further.
“Knowledge is a wealth, which is not the property of any single person, but everybody has equal right over it. Our government will provide this right to the children of low-income families,” CM Buzdar added.
Speaking about the importance of education, he said that education was the best mean of dealing with issues like poverty, unemployment and ignorance. “That is why a comprehensive strategy has been devised to synchronize the education sector with the needs and requirements of the present age.”
The chief minister said that world-class universities play an important role in national development and the PTI government has, therefore, decided to establish three international-standard universities in the province. “These universities will be set up in northern, southern and central parts of the province and feasibility studies are being conducted for their establishment,” he said.
CM Buzdar said that particular attention will also be given to the aspect of research and development in the higher education sector and it will be made compatible with the emerging challenges by utilising the latest technology.
“We will achieve targets set for the education sector and as a result, the educational scenario will be totally transformed in the province,” the chief minister concluded.