A 6-member delegation of STRIVE Project (Strengthening resilience to violent extremism) of European Commission led by Project Director Richard Barret met Provincial Minister for Education Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan here Friday. Provincial Education Minister and senior experts in education, sports and youth affairs gave briefing to the delegation of European Union about the projects and achievements of Punjab government in these sectors.
Ambassador of European Union Ben Scharveld, Deputy Ambassador Stefano Gatto, Consul General of European Union Nadeem Irani, Media Advisor Imtiaz Gull and Member Project Mian Saifur Rehman apprised the Provincial Minister of the aims and objectives of the STRIVE Project of European Union.
Welcoming the delegation, Rana Mashhood Ahmed said that this project of European Union will prove to be an important source of eliminating trends of violence and extremism from Pakistan. He said that the approach of going to last extent for any social change creates terrorism whereas Islam has given the lesson of balanced approach. He told the delegation that Indonesia which is the largest Muslim population country of the world has brought religious seminaries into mainstream by enforcing examination system of normal schools. He said that we can also make our youth useful persons of the society by promoting universal principles of tolerance, interfaith harmony and co-existence in all government and private educational institutions and universities including religious seminaries. He told that there are 60 thousand schools in Punjab and the number of children getting enrolment in these schools according to the millennium development goals is increasing every year. He said that before handing over to bureaucracy, Punjab government has evolved a higher education roadmap plan in consultation with 70 world class educationists participated in a conference organized in Pakistan through Vice Chancellors and British Council. Lieutenant General Muhammad Akram, Chairman Punjab Higher Education Commission Dr Nizam-ud-Din, Chairman Punjab Curriculum & Textbook Board Chaudhry Nawazish Ali and DG Sports Punjab Usman Anwar informed the delegation about the prominent achievements in their respective sectors. Education Minister told that Punjab government is also considering to restart two-year special course of Comparative Study of Religions in public universities of the province in which male and female students of religious seminaries having graduation degree will be provided facility of post graduation.
Later, Education Minister along with Commissioner Lahore Division Abdullah Khan Sumbal, DCO Lahore Captain Muhammad Usman (Retd), Secretary Schools Education Abdul Jabbar Shaheen and CCPO Lahore Captain Muhammad Amin Wains (Retd) during a joint press conference informed the media about the facts regarding aggressive attitude of police at a protest demonstration of students, teachers and parents of Government Islamia High School Bhati Gate Lahore. The Minister made it clear that the police officials did not torture any child.
He said that it is responsibility of security institutions to protect life and property of common citizens and the students. It is also their responsibility to keep the flow of traffic smooth in busy roads of the city, he added. Rana Mashhood said that we are in the state of war that is why a ban has been imposed on the daily morning assembly of students in schools. Therefore, it cannot be allowed to administration of any school to bring the children on road and use them for protest for personal gains, he added. He said that the nation cannot afford such disputes. He said that government has made all security arrangements in the concerned school and old administration is running this school. CCPO Lahore told that no police official can even think of torturing a 6-year old child and father of the child has admitted himself that his child was injured due to stampede.
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