Chief Minister Punjab, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that the target of rapid development can only be achieved through promotion of education. He said that education is the only way to challenge poverty, unemployment and ignorance faced by the country. The Chief Minister expressed these views while talking to elected representatives, here Thursday. The Chief Minister said that educational scholarships worth billions of rupees have been provided to talented male and female students through Punjab Educational Endowment Fund.
He also said that the role of Punjab Education Foundation is very important in spreading education and lakhs of children are studying under Voucher Scheme. He said that free of cost books, uniform, boarding and lodging facilities have been provided to these children at these centres. He said that Daanish schools are playing an important role in eliminating the trend of extremism from society and children of low-income families are getting education on par with children of the elite.
He said that 1.5 lakh male and female students facing financial constraints will be getting education through this fund by June which is a record. He said that boy and girl students of Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and other provinces have been included in educational programmes of Punjab, which has promoted national unity. Shahbaz Sharif said that PML-N government is marching forward expeditiously to achieve educational targets fixed under "Parho Punjab, Barho Punjab" programme. Shahbaz Sharif also said that the target of enrolment of every child of the province will be achieved by 2018 through hard work, determination and passion.
The Punjab government has adopted a strong policy to boost the education sector in the province. He said that a comprehensive programme of reforms is being implemented to revolutionise the education sector and the steps taken for promoting quality education and uplift of in the education sector are proving fruitful, he added.