A 5-member delegation of British Parliament met Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, on Thursday, which discussed matters of mutual interest, promotion of relations between Pakistan and Britain, co-operation in education, health particularly skill development sector and agreed to further enhance co-operation in skill development and higher education sectors.
Talking to the delegation, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said that best relations exist between Pakistan and Britain and Britain is an important trade partner of Pakistan. Programmes launched in education, health and skill development sectors with the co-operation of Britain are running successfully. Punjab government is taking revolutionary steps for empowering youth. He said that besides enrolment in schools, special attention is being paid to the training of teachers for promotion of quality education.
Chief Minister vowed that the achievement of targets fixed with regard to quality education will be ensured by 2017-18. Similarly, the programme started with the co-operation of DFID for improving public health facilities is yielding best results, he added. Thousands of youth have been made skillful in the province with the co-operation of DFID and Punjab Skill Development Company during the last few years, however, there is a need to march forward with more speed in this regard.
Preparation of quality skilled manpower and enhancement of co-operation for training of teachers is need of the hour as the target of making 20,00,000 youth skillful during next three years according to the market needs.
Shahbaz Sharif said that empowering youth is the mission of Punjab government which will be accomplished at every cost. Merit, transparency and high standard have been promoted in Punjab during last seven years. He said that more than 1,00,000 teachers have been recruited on merit in the province. Solid measures have been taken for eliminating corruption, safarish and nepotism. Chief Minister said that promotion of education, health and skill development are priorities of the government and the work for the promotion of skill development is being carried out in collaboration with international institutions.
Referring to the steps regarding elimination of terrorism and extremism, Shehbaz Sharif said that the entire nation is united for eliminating terrorism and extremism. Punjab government has made punishments deterrent by making amendments in the laws for eradication of terrorism. He said that the fully trained anti-terrorist force has been set up in the province. The sacrifices rendered by Pakistan in the war against terrorism are unprecedented throughout the world. More than 50 thousand Pakistanis have lost their lives in the war against terrorism and there is no example of such great sacrifices in the history. He said that these great sacrifices reflect the determination of Pakistan for eliminating terrorism.
The Chief Minister said that elimination of terrorism and extremism is the voice of the whole nation. The entire nation has united against terrorism after the tragic incident of killing of innocent children in Peshawar. Pak army has hit hard to terrorists in operation zarb-e-azb. The steps taken for eradication of terrorism under National Action Plan are becoming fruitful and punishments have been made severe through necessary amendments in the laws in the province.
Shehbaz Sharif said that besides bullet of gun, tablets of education, health and employment are essential for eliminating terrorism and extremism. That is why, government has focused on provision of education, health and employment, he added. Thousands of deserving and talented male and female students have been given admission in prestigious educational institutions through Punjab Educational Endowment Fund and Punjab government is bearing educational expenses of these students through this fund. He said that this is the unique educational fund in Pakistan and its total volume has increased to 15 billion rupees.
The Chief Minister said that Daanish Schools equipped with modern facilities have been set up in backward areas of the province where boys and girls of poorest families are being provided free education through smart boards. These schools are proving helpful in eliminating trend of extremism. He said that every segment has to play its positive role for the promotion of sentiments of tolerance, forbearance and brotherhood in the society. Every citizen has equal rights under the constitution in Pakistan. We want to benefit from the experience and expertise of British Council for reforms in universities in Punjab.
British Council should evolve a comprehensive roadmap for reforms in universities so that immediate steps could be taken. Country Director British Council Peter Upton assured all possible co-operation to Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif in this regard. Member Parliament from Scotland Tasmina Ahmed Sheikh offered assistance to Punjab government in skill development sector and said that all possible co-operation will be extended to Punjab government for the promotion of skill development. Welcoming co-operation in skill development sector by parliament member of Scotland, the Chief Minister said that Punjab government will take immediate steps in this regard and a delegation of Punjab government will soon visit to Scotland. Members British Parliament said that Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif is serving the people of Punjab in the real sense. They said that practical steps have been taken in education, health and skill development sectors in the province. They said that the steps of Shahbaz Sharif in metro bus project, Daanish Schools, infrastructure, education and health sectors are commendable.
Members British Parliament who met Chief Minister included Hannah Bardell, Tasmina Ahmed Sheikh, Rehman Chishti, Katherine West and Yasmin Qureshi, whereas Provincial Ministers Begum Zakia Shahnawaz, Colonel Shuja Khanzada (Retd.), Chairman Planning & Development, Chairman Punjab Higher Education Commission, Chairman Punjab Information Technology Board, educationist Dr Zafar Iqbal Qureshi besides Country Director British Council Peter Upton and Director British Council Punjab Kevin Mclaven were present on the occasion.