Govt committed to provide quality education: Gilani

MULTAN, May 5 (APS): Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani Monday said government was working on a comprehensive package for provision of quality education to its people that was compatible to the standards of the developed world. Addressing a ceremony here at the Bahauddin Zekria University, Prime Minister Gilani announced setting up of a Medical College and a foreign engineering college in affiliation with the university.
He also laid the foundation stone for new building of the Gilani Law college that will be completed at a cost of Rs 350 million by April 2009, besides funds for setting up the Veterinary Sciences college at a cost of Rs 480 million.
Currently 12,000 students, including 100 Ph.Ds are getting education through seven faculties of the University, that was established in 1975.
The Prime Minister said currently the country was facing serious challenges of energy shortage, poverty and inadequate health facilities. He said the new democratic government was committed to addressing all these issues on priority.
He said his government was also committed to increasing the per acre yield, provide better health and education facilities, improve the law and order and make Pakistan a self-sufficient country in all respects.
“Our coalition team is working day and night, collecting data and preparing working papers, and we will be able to resolve all these issues,” he said.
He said education provided an environment that encouraged free exchange of ideas and creative interaction.
“Free expression of ideas is also the hallmark of a democratic system and that is why we have restored the student unions,” he said.
He hoped that the Bahauddin University will further strengthen and provide the necessary intellectual support where the students can work efficiently.
The Prime Minister extended his full support to the university in its future endeavours and directed the Higher Education Commission to assist in the establishment of Medical College. He also directed that 100 teachers of the University should enrol in Ph.Ds and extended support of the government.
Gilani said he was proud of his family’s role in assisting the university over the years and said that it has helped improve the socio-economic condition of the people of the area.
Earlier Dr Mohammad Zafarullah, Vice Chancellor of the University in a presentation informed the prime Minister about the various projects underway at the university.