Punjab Minister for Higher Education Syed Raza Ali Gilani has said that funds of Rs 44.60 billion have been earmarked in the current financial year budget for the promotion of Higher Education (HE) in the province. Minister stated this while inaugurating the newly constructed MA block and IT lab at GC Women University Madina Town here on Wednesday.
These projects have been completed at a cost of Rs 15 million. The Higher Education Minister appreciated the steps for the development and uplift of the GC Women University and said that Punjab government was providing all out support for the higher education of the female students. Talking to the media men, the Minister said that 50 new Degree Colleges would be completed in the province during the current financial year besides construction of buildings of three new Universities. He informed that teachers academy was also being set up for the training of higher education teachers and huge amount have been specified for providing merit scholarships to the students of masters and PHD degrees.
He said that under the vision of CM Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, Punjab government was following the mission of providing facilities of higher education to the female and male students near their door steps and special attention had been focused on imparting women with most advanced higher education because the role of the women in national development could not be ignored.
Minister further said that the present government is trying to provide ample opportunities of higher education in different fields at local level so that the students don't need to go abroad for the purpose. The Minister also participated in the seminar at Jinnah Auditorium of GC Women University which was organized by Kashf Foundation on the subject of "Women in Leadership Role". Addressing the seminar he advised female students to educate themselves with commitment to serve the country.
Minister said that Pakistan could not achieve the goal of development without active participation of women in the development process and present government was providing all out facilities to the women to attain higher education. He said that positive thinking, good intention and sincerity were must to meet the challenges of national development.
The Minister said that the women possessed a lot of talent and capability therefore they should utilize their potential in achieving the prominence in diverse fields all over the World. He lauded the measures taken by Kashf Foundation for the welfare of the women folk. The Minister also visited the E-employment center and GC Women University and appreciated the keen interest of the students for exploring the employment opportunities all over the world through information technology.
Earlier, VC GC Women University Professor Dr Nourin Aziz Qureshi briefed the Minister about the educational performance, details of development projects, introduction of new disciplines and educational facilities provided to the students by the GC Women University. She informed that the all out facilities of education and research were being provided to the students besides imparting the students different skills in the University. MPA Madeha Rana, Director Carrier Counseling Center Professor Nighat Bhatti, MD Kashf Foundation Roshaan Zafar and other faculty members were also present on the occasion.