Governor Punjab, Khalid Maqbool has said that quality education and technological advancement is the only way leading the country towards progress and prosperity. He was addressing as Chancellor at the seventh convocation ceremony of University of Arid Agriculture Rawalpindi here on Tuesday.
The governor said that progress could be achieved by embracing a policy of reconciliation and enlightened moderation. He said universities have greater responsibility in this regard by refining and bordering the vision of young generation.
"Only a few extremists want to impose their ideologies on majority of people and want to lead us towards confrontation with the world to achieve their nefarious designs but we will not allow them to derail us from path of progress and prosperity," he said.
He called on the students and faculty members to give more attention to research and produce genetically modified crops and fruits, which give more yield, consume less water and compete in the international market.
The governor added that the government under dynamic leadership of President General Pervez Musharraf has been focusing on providing quality education at higher level at affordable price. He said that government is spending billions of rupees on remodelling and reconstruction of barrages, dams, canals to improve agriculture infrastructure in the country.
The governor asked the experts to come up with new innovative ideas to tackle new challenges in agriculture sector and make our farmers richer and happier, adding universities should keep close link with industries and framers to cater their needs and demands.
Earlier, Chairman Higher Education Commission (HEC), Dr Atta-ur-Rehman said that knowledge and creative abilities have become a key factor in progress of any country. He said that any country could not rely only on its natural resources alone but has to give ideas products to compete in this age of information.
He said that silent revolution was taking place in higher education and its fruits would be visible in next couple of years when PhDs students returned home from foreign countries. He said that universities main role is create new knowledge not just awarding degrees to students.