The Prime Minister Imran Khan has stated that the purpose of converting the PM House into Islamabad National University (INU) was to give message about importance of education as well as to do away with the colonial legacy. Addressing the event to turn the PM House into a varsity here on Friday, he said one reason for making this huge house built for rulers into a university was to dispose of colonial legacy.
He said one thing is essential for colonialism to survive is that the rulers have to consider themselves as superior over others and for this purpose they have established fort type of building for themselves. Prime Minister said there is a marked diffidence in living style of the rules in UK (whose colony was subcontinent) and living style of the Pakistani ruling elite reminds every one of colonial legacy.
The second reason for turning PM House into a university was a symbolic gesture for giving importance to education. He said State of Madina emphasized on education and Holy Prophet (PBHU) after conquering the first 'Battle of Badr' offered freedom to war prisoners if they teach 10 Muslims. Prime Minister said the university will not just be a symbolic representation of what the government envisages for youth but also become a centre to provide research based guidance for all the social, economic as well as institutional challenges. There is no second opinion that nations cannot progress without quality education in general and particularly higher education.
Pointing out the financial crisis the country facing, he assured that the government would fully support the growth of higher education and money recovered through the accountability drive will be diverted for meeting educational goals.
On Friday INU was launched at the PM House at a two-day launch conference presided over by the prime minister. Experts from all over Pakistan as well as many renowned scholars from China, US and European countries are attending the conference which is focusing on how the new University will help in addressing the emerging challenges and converting them into opportunities for Pakistan.
Initially, the Institute of Advanced Studies will be established at this university. The Institute will build relevant in-house research teams, which in turn will engage and collaborate with researchers and research institutions within the country and overseas. In particular, it will collaborate with and guide various centers of advanced studies established by HEC in recent years. Subsequently, in order to sustain and enhance the quality of research programmes, INU will initiate PhD level programmes in critical fields and focus on using the research impact on socio-economic development of Pakistan.
Addressing the conference, Chinese ambassador to Pakistan Yao Jing congratulated the government on the launch of INU and stated that this is another demonstration of Pakistani government's commitment to promote higher education. He also disclosed that 25000 Pakistani students are currently getting education in Chinese institutions.
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