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CPEC, Pak-US Knowledge Corridor to prove game changer for Pakistan: Ahsan

LAHORE The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and Pak-US Knowledge Corridor will prove game changers for Pakistan. The past governments in Pakistan used to buy tanks and aircraft from the United States, but no government went for the “academic weapon” of the US as its real weapon was its universities. This

By our correspondents
October 31, 2015
LAHORE
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and Pak-US Knowledge Corridor will prove game changers for Pakistan.
The past governments in Pakistan used to buy tanks and aircraft from the United States, but no government went for the “academic weapon” of the US as its real weapon was its universities.
This was stated by Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Ahsan Iqbal while speaking at the launching ceremony of the Young Development Corps (YDC) at Punjab University’s Al Raazi Hall on Friday.
PU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran, Advisor to Vice-Chancellor Col (r) Ikram Ullah Khan, Registrar Prof Dr Liaqat Ali, newly selected YDC President Huzaifa Anwar, Vice-President Imbisat Fizza, General Secretary Umer Daraz, Joint Secretary Anoop Hafeez, Media Relations Officer Arooj Aurangzaib, senior faculty members and a large number of students were also present.
Ahsan Iqbal further said that during the recent visit of prime minister to the United States, it had been decided that around 10,000 Pakistani PhDs would be trained in the US universities in the next ten years under Pak-US knowledge Corridor Programme and it would prove a revolutionary initiative for the development of the country. He also said unfortunately positive academic achievements were not being highlighted by the media.
The federal minister further said the government had increased Higher Education Commission’s budget from Rs 48 billion to Rs 78 billion and it wanted to further increase the amount to Rs 100 billion. He urged the youth and media to promote positive thinking in the society.
Talking about the YDC, he said it aimed at utilising the energies of young male and female students of universities for solving the problems the nation was facing. He said young students could bring social change and YDC would promote positive thinking among people of Pakistan. He said the government was making efforts to achieve the goals of Vision 2025 and Pakistan would be included among top 25 economies of the world by 2025. He said in 2013, there was 20 hours loadshedding, terrorist incidents were taking place every week, international media had declared Pakistan the most dangerous country of the world and Karachi was burning. But now after two-and-a-half-year, he said Pakistan Army was advancing and terrorists had run from their safe places. He said international media was declaring Pakistan the next emerging destination of investors. He said Karachi’s situation had improved manifolds and every resident of Karachi was witness to the fact.
“Pakistani flag is being hoisted in every nook and corner of Balochistan, isn’t it a change?” the minister asked. He said the government would establish universities or sub campuses in all the districts to provide higher education opportunities at the doorstep of the poor.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Mujahid Kamran said Ahsan Iqbal’s address had reflected that he was not a “political” minister but a minister who had dreams and destinations in his eyes and wanted to make youth part of them. He said Knowledge Corridor was Ahsan Iqbal’s brainchild which had been adopted by the prime minister and this plan would prove a milestone in the history of the country.
The YDC president said the students were thankful to the federal government for making them part of development projects. He said the students of the universities had been provided a healthy platform to play their role in achieving the goals of Vision 2025. Earlier, PU VC administered the oath to the newly selected office-bearers of the Young Development Corps.
Meanwhile, Ahsan Iqbal was the chief guest at a seminar "Higher Education Institutions’ Role to Achieve Vision 2025: Policy Emphasis" organised by University of Education, Township Campus, on Friday. VC University of Education Prof Dr Rauf-i-Azam presided over the seminar.
Dr Nizamuddin, VC GCU Dr Hasan Amir Shah, Acting VC LCWU Dr Uzma Qureshi, officials, eminent educationists and a large number of students were also present.
Speaking on the occasion, Ahsan Iqbal said the universities were the hub of research and education and responsible for the creation of new knowledge and social development.
Prof. Dr. Rauf-i-Azam and Dr Nizam also spoke.