Distributes laptops among students in Sialkot
LAHORE: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said the Pakistan Muslim League-N government clearly thinks that Pakistan cannot make progress unless its every child is equipped with education.
He said the PML-N government established the Punjab Educational Endowment Fund with an amount of Rs2 billion; now its volume has increased to Rs17 billion and has become the biggest fund of South Asia. He said about two lakh boy and girl students have benefitted from this fund.
Had this fund been set up on 14 August, 1947 instead of 2008 then no child from Peshawar to Mehran Valley would have been deprived of education and it would have become Pakistan of Quaid-i-Azam and Allama Iqbal in the real sense.
He said lakhs of children would be provided laptops for fighting the economic war of country enabling them to play their due role in setting the economy of Pakistan on strong foundations.
He said that earlier he was criticised for making youngsters his supporters with the distribution of laptops among them. At that time, he had said that should he give Kalashnikovs in the hands of youths instead of laptops. At that time the opponents became silent with the distribution of laptops among youths and now they should also remain silent on distribution of laptops among youths.
Shahbaz Sharif said that scholarships of Rs11 billion have been given from this fund of the Punjab government through which thousands of resourceless but talented students have become doctors, engineers, teachers, bankers, experts and scientists and are serving the country and the nation.
This educational fund has opened the doors of higher education for the talented children of the nation facing shortage of resources, he added. Had this fund not been set up, the children would not have even seen the doors of prestigious educational institutions rather than studying there, he added. He said not only the students of Punjab fund but all the units of Pakistan are benefiting from this fund.
He expressed these views while addressing the ceremony of distribution of laptops among students of Government College for Women University, Sialkot. Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, parliamentarians, vice-chancellors, principals, teachers, educationists and a large number of students attended the ceremony.
The chief minister said this ceremony has been arranged to highlight merit, salute the dignity of handwork and paying tributes to the splendid efforts of those great sons and daughters of the nation who achieved this place through round-the-clock hard work.
The chief minister appreciated parents and teachers who supported the children in their education and training. He said the Punjab government by establishing Punjab Educational Endowment Fund has provided opportunities of higher education to lakhs of boys and girls like Sohail Chohan and Sara. He said that higher education has been arranged for those children through this fund whose parents had died.
He said these children are no less than anyone regarding intelligence but shortage of resources has become a hurdle in the way of their study. They are the daughters and sons of hardworking parents whose main challenge is to meet both ends, whereas opportunities of higher education are available to the children of elite in any part of the world, he added.
The chief minister said the Punjab government had taken this step for eliminating disparity between the rich and the poor through Punjab Educational Fund.He said that a poor child can be more industrious than a rich one. He is determined to utilise all his energies for enabling the children of the poor to get higher education. Poverty will not be allowed to become a wall in the way of education. Today, deserving students are moving in society with pride and confidence. The Punjab government has laid the foundation of revolution with this educational fund for youths.
The chief minister said he will add Rs5 billion more to Punjab Educational Endowment Fund if increase of 1.5 lakh more students is made in the number of those getting educational scholarships within one year. He said the Punjab government has distributed 315,000 laptops on merit basis in three phases so far while in phase four, 115,000, the most modern I-7 laptops are being distributed among students before Ramazan. He said he has issued instructions to authorities concerned in this regard while 1.5 lakh modern laptops will be distributed during next financial year and more funds will be allocated in the budget of next year for this purpose.
He said that lakhs of children would be provided laptops for fighting the economic war of country enabling them to play their due role in setting the economy of Pakistan on strong foundations. He said crores of people are earning their livelihood through laptops in the world. Shahbaz Sharif said it is right of Pakistani youths to become aware of modern knowledge and the Punjab government is ensuring their rights through distribution of laptops among youths. He said the Punjab government is distributing laptops on the basis of merit and this merit policy should not be changed by any government. He said that merit is the only way to make progress; that is why merit has been promoted at every level in Punjab.
Addressing youths, the chief minister said they are our precious asset and the nation expects from them that they will make the country strong economically by steering it out of poverty. He said youths will help in breaking the begging bowl and make Pakistan a great country of the world. He said that CPEC has changed the course of history of Pakistan and an investment of 55 billion dollars is being made in energy, infrastructure, transport and other projects under this package. He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, work is being carried out round-the-clock on CPEC projects. After completion of CPEC project, Pakistan will be among the successful countries, he added.
The chief minister said that China has not asked for any favour in return of such big investments, it only wants peace, development and success for 200 million people of Pakistan. Youth never forgets the favour and we should also not forget this effort of China. He also said that in Sahiwal, the biggest coal power plant in 70 years history of country is being established. He said that work was started on this project on July 2015 and will start producing electricity on 20 May, 2017. He said speedy completion of this project will set a new record in the world. He said that on the other hand is Neelum-Jhelum Hydro Power Project which was started in 2002 and is still incomplete even after 18 years. He said now this project will be completed in 2018 under the leadership of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. He said Pakistan will become a great power only by acting upon the ideals of Quaid-i-Azam and teachings of Holy Quran. He said Sialkot is a great city of Pakistan. It is also the city of Allama Iqbal, Faiz Ahmed Faiz and Khawaja Muhammad Safder and it produced great people.
The chief minister announced to launch Speedo buses for the citizens of Sialkot and said they will travel through these buses in next few months. He also announced construction of an underpass in the city. Shahbaz Sharif also distributed laptops among the talented students.