President Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday said that Pakistan "is committed to rooting out" extremism through prudent approach in accordance with the country's ground realities, and sought academicians' support in addressing this sensitive issue.
"We are not dragging our feet; nor we lack in determination to deal with the complex problem which has to be handled with care. It has to be addressed in its long-term perspective and not through use of force," he said in a wide-ranging interaction with eminent educationists, scientists and researchers.
Pakistan, he underlined, "is certainly moving in a clearly defined direction" to get rid of the malaise of extremism, and also confronting terrorism with force. He said that these "are repercussions" of 26-year long unrest, militancy and strife in Afghanistan and the region.
The President vowed to continue the country's efforts for a societal change, and described promotion of education at all levels as one of the means to achieve this objective.
"The academics should support our endeavours by educating young minds with enlightened teachings of Islam, which call for tolerance and peace.
"The fight against extremism requires changing mindsets. If our teachers lead by example, it would be greatly helpful in effecting a change for the better," he said.
Identifying illiteracy and poverty as the other underlying causes of extremism and terrorism, he said the international community has to tackle these issues collectively in a comprehensive manner.
"In Pakistan, we are focused on passing on the benefits of economic gains to the people at grass-roots level to bring more jobs to our people. We are also striving for universalising education across the country as part of our holistic approach to human resource development."
The President informed the gathering, also including foreign scholars, that the Government was endeavouring to streamline education system of Madrassahs.
"We will encourage introduction of modern subjects in Madrassahs and also award scholarships to their students so that graduating students acquire professional skills and enter the mainstream of national life."
On improving the higher education scenario, the President observed that acquiring advancement in science and technology "is the way forward" for Pakistan's fast-paced progress.
"No doubt, agriculture is currently the mainstay of our economy; but we are in the process of shifting our focus to industrial development, which accounts for 61 percent of the world trade, while textiles make up only six percent of it," he said.
The President said that the Government wants the centres of excellence to produce professionals who can propel Pakistan into rapid industrial development and has enacted a 3000 percent increase in allocations for higher education.
"The academics have to act as agents of change and produce skilled manpower commensurate with demands of the market. Our objective is to turn industrial base into our real strength," he added.
In this context, the robust industrial growth achieved in the last two fiscal years had fortified Pakistan's resolve to move ahead in the direction, he said.
"We have come a long way. We have steered the rudderless ship out of high seas and provided a rudder to the ship. The economic turnaround brought about in the last six years bespeaks for both our resolve and ability to develop, befitting our vast potential," he said, recounting a range of macro-economic achievements.
The President informed the gathering that the Government is in the process of setting up an autonomous organisation for promoting vocational skills of the youth in all provinces.
He said he would personally oversee provision of basic health, education, electricity and clean drinking water to people by 2007 and also pursue progress in projects aimed at arresting poverty, creating job opportunities and price control.
He commended the Higher Education Commission for encouraging Pakistani expatriates to return to their homeland, and described it as reversal of the brain-drain, which was "due to negligence of the past governments".
"It is a heartening sign that outstanding Pakistanis are returning to serve the nation, in response to our policies and economic achievements," he said.
He said that Pakistan must hit the target of producing 1500 Ph Ds per annum in the fields of science and technology.
Entertaining questions from the scholars, the President agreed with a participant that Pakistan "is a victim of misperceptions" and needed to improve its image.
Higher Education Commission Chairman Dr Atta ur Rehman thanked the President for his abiding commitment and financial support to the cause of higher education.
The HEC has financed 500 Pakistani students to pursue studies at reputed European and American institutions of higher learning as part of the Government's policy to move towards knowledge-based economy.
Dr Atta said that efforts were afoot to establish world class engineering universities, in collaboration with Germany, France, Austria and Sweden.
Minister for Education Javed Ashraf Qazi, Minister for Health Muhammad Nasir Khan and senior officials were also present.
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