Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that the project of setting up Knowledge Park on a vast area in Lahore is unique and the first project of its kind in the history of the country and will play an important role in the promotion of quality education in the country. He said that establishment of the campuses of prominent local and foreign educational institutions in the Knowledge Park will promote quality education and the Knowledge Park to be set up in Lahore will be the first educational centre of its kind in the region where all facilities will be available under one roof.
The Chief Minister expressed these views while presiding over a high level meeting to review the project of Knowledge Park of international standard in the provincial metropolis.
The Chief Minister while addressing the meeting said that education is the only way towards rapid development and the goal of progress cannot be achieved without education. Therefore, he said, Punjab government is spending billions of rupees on the programmes for the promotion of quality education. He said that problems like terrorism, extremism, poverty and unemployment will be overcome through promotion of education and the Punjab government is taking special measures for promotion of education.
He said that through Daanish schools, quality education has been made available to the children of low income segments in backward areas of the province and better education than prestigious institutions is being provided in Daanish schools. The Chief Minister said that project of Knowledge Park has been evolved under the strategy of promotion of education and project of knowledge Park is a revolutionary project in the noble mission of promotion of education as local students as well as of other countries will be able to get education in the educational institutions which will be established in the Knowledge Park. He said that residential, recreational and other facilities for teachers and local and foreign students will be available in the Knowledge Park. He said that promotion of education, research and science and technology is the need of the hour and the project of Knowledge Park is of vital importance for the promotion of education and research.
Shahbaz Sharif said that the important project of Knowledge Park has to be furthered without wasting any time as it will leave a positive impact on the development of education sector. The Chief Minister also issued instructions for setting up a sub- committee with regard to Knowledge Park which will present final report after reviewing all matters regarding the project. Provincial Ministers Rana Mashhood Ahmed, Dr Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, Chairman Planning & Development, secretaries of Finance, Higher Education departments, Chairman Punjab Information Technology Board, educationists and concerned officials attended the meeting.