‘No development possible without skilled, trained human resource’

Islamabad : Member National Assembly Mohammad Hanif Abbasi has said that education plays an important role in the development of individuals as well as of society at large and no development is possible without skilled and trained human resources.

Addressing a seminar titled ‘Education Emergency and our Responsibilities’ organised by Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), he said that character building is one of the main traits of education, so the virtues like honesty, truthfulness, impartiality and empathy should be inculcated among the students through the education process. He said that around 26 million children are out-of-school and it is our prime responsibility to enrol them and make them useful citizens not only for their families but for the country by imparting education and instilling skill development. He added that improvement in the teachers’ skills level is equally important for obtaining the objective and enhancing the literacy level for the development of the country.

He said that sitting Prime Minister Mohammad Shehbaz Sharif is the first ever Prime Minister who is taking keen interest in enhancing the literacy level and in induction of out of school children to make them valuable asset of the country. President Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari while paying glowing tributes to Prime Minister Mohammad Shehbaz Sharif for taking initiative for out of school children to make them beneficial individuals instead of becoming burden on the society.

He demanded that the Government must allow the commencement of evening classes in mosques, chamber houses, and community halls for the children whose parents are unable to bear the expenses of education, adding that in this way we can usher a revolution in the society by enhancing literacy rate as well as skill development. Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari said that ICCI is already working for the cause and that it has inked a number of MoUs with the Universities for the promotion of Industry-Academia linkages, it is providing grants for construction of study rooms in schools and colleges, providing water filtration plants, computers, laboratory equipment etc.

He added that doors of Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry are open for this noble cause and that it will extend every possible support to the education ministry as well as the NGOs working on it. Asma Malik, CEO Lift Foundation described that how out of school children can be enrolled in informal schools to impart them education and latest skills to make them productive individuals. Faculty members and students from different Universities, civil society members, stakeholders and ICCI executive members attended the seminar in large number including convener ICCI Committee on HEC Adnan Mukhtar, Ms. Uzma Mukhtar and Arooj Malik.