Caretaker Prime Minister Mohammadmian Soomro Saturday called for quality teaching and research to produce professionals for socio-economic development of the country.
Pakistan is in need of professionals who could understand and act according to the new socio-economic requirements and only universities could produce such individuals to make Pakistan a strong and prosperous country, he said while inaugurating different development projects costing Rs 193 million here at Islamia University.
The Prime Minister said universities in the country have been passing through an expansion phase due to the priority given to education by the government and hoped these institutions would play their due role for eradicating illiteracy and backwardness of all areas. He said education is the most effective source of an individual's mental, physical, ideological and moral training.
One of the most important challenges faced by all nations is to bring about global peace and only students can achieve this goal as they are the agents of change and destined to bring a positive development, he said. On the occasion, the Prime Minister announced a special grant of Rs 20 million for Islamia University Bahawalpur to undertake extension projects to provide better facilities to the faculty and students.
Governor Punjab, Lieutenant General Khalid Maqbool (Retd) expressed the hope that the newly established fine arts department and Bahawalpur Art Gallery in the Saraiki department of the University would be instrumental in preserving rich cultural heritage of the area.
Earlier, in his welcome address, Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Dr Bilal A Khan highlighted the details of different development and educational projects being carried out by the university. The Prime Minister also witnessed the cultural show presented by the students of the university.