Call to allocate 4pc of GDP to education

LAHORE

Punjab University Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran has said that the government must allocate at least four percent of GDP to education to eradicate illiteracy and for the development of the country. 

He was addressing a seminar held at Punjab University Al-Raazi Hall here on Thursday. 

Punjab Libraries Director General Dr Zahir-ud-Din Babar, Head of Rotary International Pakistan Literacy Chair Saeed Shamsi, former District Governor Sajid Pervaiz Bhatti, President Tax Bar Association Farhan Shahzad, Assistant Prof Ms Sonia Omer, faculty members and a large number of students were present on the occasion.

Dr Mujahid Kamran said the Muslims were facing problems in the world due to ignorance and their distance from knowledge.

He said we had not realised that the 750 verses of Holy Quran, which is 1/8th part of the Holy Book, stressed to focus on resolving the mysteries of the universe. He said that America’s GDP was around 18 trillion and it spent 2 to 2.7 percent i.e. 360 to 540 billion dollars on research and development per year while Pakistan had a GDP of around 250 billion dollars only and was spending only 0.1 or 0.2 percent on research and development per year. 

Dr Zahir-ud-Din Babar said the number of persons visiting public libraries in Punjab were increasing and around 600 to 650 persons visit each public library a day. 

Shahbaz Bukhari said youth were future of Pakistan and young male and female students should play their role to eradicate illiteracy from our beloved homeland. Sajid Pervaiz Bhatti said the government could not eradicate illiteracy from our society alone rather we would have to work jointly and play our role as individual and as a society.

He called upon the students to establish literacy centres in their respective remote areas. Farhan Shahzad and Dr Afifa also spoke on the occasion.