Punjab govt investing in youth to ensure country's bright future: Rana Mashhood    

RAWALPINDI: Punjab Minister for Education Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan Wednesday said Punjab government is investing in youth to ensure bright future of Pakistan,

Inaugurating fourth phase of Prime Minister Laptop Scheme at Viqar un Nisa College for Women as chief guest, he said, 2730 laptops would be distributed in Rawalpindi district.

Member National Assembly Malik Ibrar, MPA and Parliamentary Secretary for Youth Affairs Punjab Chaudhry Sarfraz Afzal, MPA Sobia Satti, Acting Commissioner Rawalpindi Talat Mahmood Gondal, Additional Secretary Higher Education Commission Ajmal Bhatti, local PML-N leaders, large number of students and their parents were present on the occasion.

Rana Mashhood said due to untiring four-year efforts of the federal government, the fragile economy has been revived rather, according to World Economic Forum and other international financial institutions, Pakistan would be among top 20 economies of the world by 2030.

Distribution of laptops among students is part of efforts being made to promote education, he added.

He said, the PML-N government in Punjab had eliminated 'Boti Mafia' in 1998 and the government was making all out efforts to bring educational revolution in the province since 2008.

He said, talented students of poor and deserving families are getting education on government expense in best national and international educational institutions.

The minister said the laptops are not being distributed among students for getting votes but, the scheme was aimed at promoting talented and brilliant students who are selected through transparent procedure.

He said when PML-N government came into power, the country was facing many challenges including energy crisis as between 1999 to 2013, one megawatt electricity could not be added in the national grid.

But the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif started power projects of 14000 megawatts during last four years which would end load-shedding in the country by 2018.

China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would start a new era of economic revolution in Pakistan, the minister said adding, during 'One Belt One Road' international conference held in China, 300 international companies have signed agreements to invest in Pakistan.

He informed that the country would have huge employment opportunities for which the youth are being provided not only higher education but also imparted technical skills.

Rana Mashhood said the enemies of the country are afraid of Pakistan's development but, the development journey would continue under the PML-N leadership. He said in Punjab province around eight million children were registered in schools before 2008 but now the enrolled students' figure is touching 12.5 million.

Similarly, the attendance of school teachers was recorded 72 percent before 2008 which has reached 96 percent.

The students' attendance was 69 percent in 2008 which has crossed 90 percent.

In order to improve education standard of Punjab, educational models of China, Singapore and Malaysia were studied and due to prudent policies of the government, every child of Punjab would be registered in schools by 2018.

On the occasion, guard of honour was also presented to those who received laptops.

Later, talking to media persons, the students appreciated the policies of Punjab government.