President General Pervez Musharraf has said that positive headway achieved in the field of higher education would bring a revolution.
"The progress in the field of higher education was achieved because of efforts of Prof Atta ur Rehman. Our educational institutions were our major NGOs and there was need to make a right centre of all the knowledges," he added.
He made those remarks while speaking on the occasion of inauguration Dr Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (PCMD) at Karachi University on Monday.
The ceremony was also addressed by Federal Minister Incharge and Chairman Higher Education Commission Professor Dr Atta ur Rehman, Karachi University Vice-Chancellor Professor Pirzada Qasim and Professor Dr Muhammad Iqbal Chaudhry.
President Pervez Musharraf said that progress achieved in higher education under the Commission for Higher Education headed by Dr Atta ur Rehman was bound to bring a revolution.
He pointed out that selection of Dr Atta ur Rehman for development in that vital sector had been because of his efforts.
The President declared every year 1500 persons would be sent abroad for Ph.D. while the government would keep increasing the budget for higher education.
He pointed out because of government efforts, the budget for higher education was raised from Rs 800 million to Rs 9.1 billion and educational planning by Dr Atta ur Rehman would have continued support from the government.
President told the gathering world over, 60 percent trade was carried out in the engineering and industrial sectors and we here were just engaged in growing grass.
Speaking about the decline of Muslims, he said we have stopped the process of learning whereas in the past, the Muslims had given an out-standing performance in the scientific field.
He observed our Madaris not only impart education to our children but also provide food and accommodation and from that point of view they were our major NGOs. However, what was needed was to make them a right centre of all knowledge, he said.
He described PCMD a vital achievement in the field of higher education and said its establishment had set a worth emulating example for other philanthropic people of the country.
Addressing the ceremony Dr Atta ur Rehman said in any country, a revolution was brought through education adding that only difference between developed nations and us was that of science and technology.
Speaking about the performance of Higher Education Commission, Dr Atta said 1500 persons would be sent abroad every year for Ph.D which would help prepare a big force of intellectuals and bring a change in the very concept of higher education in the country.
Vice-Chancellor Karachi University Pirzada Qasim while expressing his views said inauguration of an institution like PCMD had added another institution of higher education and research to Karachi University. He paid rich tributes to the educational planning of Dr Atta ur Rehman.
The acting Chief of the International Center for Chemical Sciences Professor Dr Mohammed Iqbal Chaudhry said development in the field of higher education had become inevitable.
The head of Dr Panjwani Memorial Trust, Nadira Panjwani thanked President Pervez Musharraf for his presence in the ceremony.
Among others, Sindh Governor Dr Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan, Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim and various noted academic and social personalities were also present on the occasion.