President Mamnoon Hussain on Monday reiterated commitment of the government towards promotion of quality education at all levels. Talking to a group of vice-chancellors and rectors of leading universities of the country here at Aiwan-e-Sadr, the President said education sector was also focussing on developing a system required for a knowledge-based economy.
The country needs skilled, highly educated and motivated youth to compete in the present global environment and keep it on the path of development, he added. He said educated and trained youth could turn all challenges into opportunities. Underscoring the significance of knowledge-based economy, the President urged the need for the universities and educational institutions to maintain the spirit of excellence and generate new avenues of sustainable growth with focus on developing a knowledge-based economy, a press release said.
He said the role of universities had become more critical in today's era of technological development where innovations in technologies and new scientific knowledge were becoming prime divers of economic progress. He said as human knowledge made great strides, the role of the universities as centers of research, teaching and excellence had assumed greater importance. The President urged the heads of the universities and institutions of higher learning to rise to the globally changing environment keep pace with the global scientific and technological development and play their critical role in the human, social and economic development of Pakistan.
President Mamnoon, highlighting the critical role of universities in nation-building process and human resource development, urged the need to focus on promoting excellence in learning and research to prepare the youth to help them compete at global level and cope with growing future challenges. He also appreciated the efforts of HEC that helped seven universities achieve top ranks among top 200 Asian universities.
The President called for providing an environment conducive to research in science and technology and free of any disturbance including strikes and unionism. He also called for focusing on promoting women education so as to make the women strong to face the challenges of life with the strength of their minds, besides enabling the women of the country to participate more effectively in the decision making process. Stressing women empowerment, the President said women accounted for over 50 per cent of the country's total population and had a greater role to play in national building process and socio-economic development. He laid great emphasis on women education and urged the need for more concerted efforts to equip the women with knowledge and relevant skills to utilise their potential and bring them into the national mainstream.
The vice chancellors appreciated the President's keen interest in the promotion of education. They apprised him about academic activities, achievements, ongoing and future projects and plans, and different issues of their respective universities. The President assured all possible support and patronage to the heads of the universities for the promotion of education.
The heads of universities, who called on the President, included Vice Admiral Shahid Iqbal (Retd), Rector Bahria University Islamabad, Imran Rahman Vice Chancellor Institute of Space Technology Islamabad, Dr Muhammad Aslam Rector, Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences Islamabad, Professor Javed Akram Vice Chancellor Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Medical University Islamabad and Professor Dr Ali Asghar Chisti Acting Vice Chancellor Allama Iqbal Open University Islamabad. Engr Syed Imtiaz Hussain Gilani, Chairperson, Higher Education Commission and Professor Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, Executive Director, were also present in the meeting.