LAHORE
Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that education and not labour is the destiny of children. He said it is the responsibility of the government to equip every child with education and a comprehensive programme is being implemented for this purpose. He said that all-out resources are being utilised for enrolment of every child.
He said that quality education was the right of children and utmost efforts were needed to ensure this right. He said there was a need to equip young generation with modern education. He said the children working at kilns, workshops, petrol pumps and hotels would be enrolled while child labour would be eliminated at any cost. He said that financial assistance would be provided through Khidmat cards to children working in workshops, petrol pumps and hotels if they go to school.
This was stated by him while presiding over a meeting to review the pace of progress on education reforms programme for the promotion of quality and modern education, here, Tuesday. The meeting reviewed progress of implementation of reforms programme, promotion of education in schools, construction of additional rooms and improvement of enrolment. The meeting also approved enhancing the amount of scholarship to the girl students of high schools in south Punjab and some other districts. Shahbaz Sharif said that maximum resources were being given for providing education to children. He said that after brick-kilns, children working in workshops, petrol pumps and hotels would be enrolled. He said that a strategy was being devised for the admission of working children to schools.
The chief minister directed that immediate measures should be taken for achieving the target of enrolment and efforts be made for achieving positive results of the investment of billions of rupees on the future of the nation. He approved a number of decisions for ensuring 100 percent enrolment and said that all-out resources would be made available for the admission of maximum number of students especially girls to schools.
He said that work should be carried out with commitment for achieving the desired results from the investment of billions of rupees on the future of the nation. He said it was the responsibility of minister and department concerned to achieve the target set for improvement of education sector. He said that quality and modern education was a guarantee to a bright future. He said there would be no shortage of funds for imparting education to students. He said that billions of rupees were being spent on the up-gradation of schools and provision of missing facilities. He directed that immediate steps should be taken for capacity-building of Punjab Education Foundation.
He said that required funds would be made available for admission of maximum number of girls to schools. He said that imparting quality education to every male and female child was a target of the government and strenuous efforts were needed for its achievement. Secretary Schools Education gave a detailed briefing regarding promotion of quality education in schools.
DG WTO: World Trade Organization (WTO) Director General Roberto Azevedo met Chief Minister Shahbaz Shari on Tuesday. The WTO assured Punjab government of helping in eliminating child labour and providing technical assistance in different sectors. He congratulated Shahbaz Sharif on fully benefitting from information technology in social sectors, especially education and elimination of child labour and said Shahbaz Sharif has taken effective steps for the welfare of the masses. He said partnership will be strengthened with Punjab government. He said Pakistan is moving in the right direction and effective reforms have been introduced for the strengthening of economy and promotion of investment. He said a conducive atmosphere for investment exists in the country.
Speaking on the occasion, the CM said vast opportunities of investment are available in Punjab and the government is providing all out facilities to investors. He said the Punjab government has promoted the culture of transparency and quality completion of projects. He said entire land record of rural areas has been computerised under Land Record Management Information System. He said computerisation of land record is a big achievement of Punjab government and it has curbed corruption. He said a sum of Rs 14 billion has been spent on this historic project and World Bank has declared it the best project of the world. Shahbaz Sharif said the government is determined to eliminate energy crisis and terrorism. He said electricity projects of thousands of megawatts are being set up at a cost of billions of dollars under China Pakistan Economic Corridor. He said federal and Punjab government are setting up gas-based power projects of 3600 megawatts with their own resources and 10,000 megawatts electricity will be added to the national grid by the beginning of 2018 which will help control energy crisis.
The CM said the Punjab government is implementing a big programme of skill development and thousands of youth have been imparted various skills according to market needs. He said that Punjab government is focusing on promotion of quality education in the province. The CM said technical assistance of WTO in different sectors will be appreciated. WTO DG invited the CM to visit Geneva.
