Standard Education Key To Bright Future For Youth, Says Shehbaz

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Jan, 2017 ) : Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said the provincial government was taking revolutionary steps to equip its youth with latest knowledge by prioritizing quality education from last eight and a half years.

"Education is the only key to success and prosperity which helps eliminating poverty, extremism and unemployment," he added. He expressed these views while addressing the 15th annual convocation of Government College University Lahore.

The Chief Minister said education was undoubtedly a vital investment which later repaid you in the best way that's why the government was vigilant to provide international standard quality education that would prepare the youth to cope with the present situation and develop analytical and critical thinking, skills and attitude that would make them more flexible and innovative to deal with uncertainty and crises at national and global level.

In this regard, he said, Punjab Education Endowment Fund (PEEF) was the government's biggest initiative through which more than 175,000 less-privileged but talented students were getting quality education and with the income of this Rs 17 billion project, scholarships worth of Rs 7.5 billion had been distributed at merit basis.

Applauding the contribution of Government College University Lahore for promotion of standard education, Chief Minister announced Rs 100 million for endowment fund of university.

He awarded the distinguished students of MPHIL, MS, PHD and those performing well in extra-curricular activities with degrees and gold medals.

While congratulating them, Shehbaz Sharif said they were the future of Pakistan. Shehbaz Sharif said earlier access to higher and quality education was only possible for cream of the crop but they had provided the deserving with their right and set up the biggest education endowment fund for intelligent students of poor families to get education in local and foreign prestigious educational institutions.

He assured full assistance to the institutions like GCU Lahore who were working hard for promotion of education. He said today Pakistan was heading towards brighter future from all fronts and soon would arrive the time when it would get its due status at international level.

At this occasion VC GCU Lahore , Professor Dr. Hassan Ameer Shah briefed the guests about academic activities and extension plan. VC gifted the distinguished guests including Chief Minister Punjab Shehbaz Sharif, Provincial Minister HEC Syed Ali Raza Gillani and Chairman HEC Commission Dr. Nizam-ud-Din with shields. APP/zsd/zqr/sbr � 1:00/01:46/01:46