The Minister of State and Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, Dr Akram Shaikh, has said that nothing serious has been done for the development of higher science and medical education in Pakistan, which is the basic reason for economic and political weaknesses of the country.
Keeping this in view now the Planning Commission has urged the federation and the provinces for enhancing funds to develop higher education in the country, he said while addressing 'Higher Education ISO-9001' seminar held under the auspices of Institution of Engineers Pakistan (IEP) at a local hotel on Sunday.
Peshawar Engineering University (PEU) Vice-Chancellor Imtiaz Hussain Gilani, IEP President Engr. Aftab Islam Agha, Brigadier Ghyas and Engr. Mumtaz Hussain also addressed the seminar.
The Planning Commission deputy chairman said that unfortunately, nothing concrete had been done for the uplift of higher education in the country and that is why in this field Pakistan is far behind of many countries, including China and India.
According to him, many counties made economic development because they attached top priority to higher education, including promoting medical education and modern technology. "Pakistan's share in the world GDP is almost non-existent and the same is the situation with our exports", he added.
He also criticised the Islamic countries for neglecting higher education, saying the role of Saarc and G-8 platforms had also been disappointing in this field.
He informed the participants that developed countries were spending 30 percent of their budget on education, while this ratio was very dismal in Pakistan. "We cannot ignore science and technical education," Dr Akram Shaikh said, adding the Planning Commission was now moving ahead in this direction and will give significance to this field in its future policies.