The Provincial Minister for Science and Technology Hussain Ahmad Kanju has disclosed that after establishment of separate Women Medical College and Women University in NWFP, the MMA government has decided to open Women University of Science and Technology in Kohat, adding that its feasibility report was completed and work on it would be started in the next financial year.
He was replying to the questions of listeners at Radio Pakistan Kohat the other day. Vice Chancellor Kohat University of Science and Technology Zabta Khan Shinwari assisted the Minister on this occasion.
The Minister Science and Technology said that the government was committed to eradicate ignorance, illiteracy and deprivation from the society.
For that purpose drastic reforms had been introduced in the education sector and educational budget was increased by three times. He added that due to free education up to matric level and provision of free books at primary level, the admission ratio in the schools was increased by 29 percent hoping that this ratio would be doubled in the next academic year by providing free books up to matric level to the male and female students.
Kanju continued that the government needed Rs 100 billion for decorating each and every child with the ornament of knowledge including provision of teacher and other basic facilities. But the resources of the province were limited and therefore all possible steps were being taken to promote education within its resources, he maintained.
Replying to another question regarding healthcare facilities to the people of far-flung areas of the province, the Minister asserted that that the government concentrating to upgrade and equip the existing health units with latest facilities instead of making new such centers to ensure best healthcare facilities to the common man at their door steps. He furthered said that the free emergency treatment facilities were given in the Teaching Hospitals of the province in the first step and it would be replicated to other hospitals in the second stage.
Regarding science and technology education, the S&T Minister said that efforts were being made to promote education, alleviate poverty and produce skilled manpower by developing a science & technology culture and introduce good practices in this sector and workshops have been arranged in different districts to create awareness about the fast emerging technologies.
About establishment of Science, Technology and Information Technology Universities in public sector at district level, Kanju clarified that it was difficult task to do so however private sector in this regard would fully be encouraged, he concluded.