Promotion of women education top priority, says Imran Khan

Lays foundation-stone of academic block, opens Spring Festival

PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) head Imran Khan said here Tuesday that the provincial government was committed to promoting women education and 70 percent of the new educational institutions would be specified for them.

Addressing a function in connection with the International Women’s Day at the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University, the PTI chief said that two out of every three new schools, colleges or universities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would be established for women. He said that women education had always been the most neglected sector as far as the previous governments were concerned. “The PTI has given top priority to promotion of women education and women empowerment in the province,” he stressed.

He pledged to make every effort to protect the rights of women in line with the teachings of Islam. “We are proud of our values and there would be no compromise on these values,” he added.

Imran Khan said that women were the future leaders of the country. He opined that the role of women in every capacity was very important in the society. “Woman as a mother is the strongest pillar of the society. It is the mother who builds the nation,” he maintained.

The event at the university was attended by a large number of students, faculty members, women parliamentarians and people from other walks of life. Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, his advisor on higher education and information Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani and Vice-Chancellor of the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University, Professor Dr Razia Sultana also spoke at the function.

In her speech, Dr Razia Sultana highlighted the working and achievements of the university. She said it was the lone institution of higher education for women in the province. “Our university is playing a leading role in promotion of women education and women empowerment,” she added.

Imran Khan also laid the foundation stone of the new academic block in the university. He also planted a sapling at the university campus to start the tree plantation campaign as part of the provincial government’s “Billion Tree Tsunami.”

The PTI chief also inaugurated the Spring Festival in the university. The students had set up around 50 stalls displaying different things in the festival. Food items, embroidery and cultural and traditional items had been put on display at the colourful stalls.

The students, teachers and visitors took keen interest in the festival as they roamed the stalls. Many enjoyed the food and bought items from the stalls. Vice-Chancellor Dr Razia Sultana presented souvenirs to the dignitaries.