Education key to Pakistan's progress: Shaukat Aziz

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz stressed on Friday evening that education was the only key to country's progress and development.
He expressed his views while speaking to a gathering of British-Pakistani professionals, business and community leaders at a fund raising dinner hosted by the former Pakistan High Commissioner to the UK, Abdul Kader Jaffer, with regard to the construction of the Hub School near Karachi.
The event was organised in the India-Pakistan Hall at the historic Royal Overseas League House in Central London. The focus of his speech was 'Pakistan-Challenges and Opportunities in the current scenario'.
Aziz said out of Pakistan's teeming population of 160 million, 100 million were below the age of 25 years and if this was educated, trained and skilled it could be a huge asset for the country.
"They will produce goods, they will consume goods and derive income and boost the progress of the country," he said, adding that Pakistan's future could be very secure and attractive if this kind of population was trained on the right lines.
He listed five challenges facing Pakistan in the current milieu, including extremism, fair and free elections, economic reforms, establishing Pakistan as a brand and lastly development in the social sector. The ex-premier attributed extremism to deprivation, lack of rights, justice, future, income and the denial to express views freely.
He said Islam abhors violence as it was a religion of peace but more was needed to be done to portray the picture of Islam with its true essence to win the hearts and minds of those who have gone astray. This, he noted could only be possible by focussing on education and developing the social and economic sectors in the country.
He added the extremism was a universal challenge and had manifested itself in many forms. He expressed hope that the upcoming elections would provide an impetus for political stability and further economic growth enabling the country to continue the march for prosperity and people's welfare.
Shaukat Aziz said that people of Pakistan would find their voice in free, fair and transparent elections on February 18. "Pakistan is at a crossroad, and the new elected government would be well positioned to take the country forward amidst many internal and external challenges," he said while observe ring that the country would emerge wiser, better and smarter.
Dispelling concerns about the economic health of the country, he said that the fundamentals are strong and investments in Pakistan had earned high dividends. He said that due to the country's strategic location and attractive demographics, Pakistan would continue to be an attractive destination for local and foreign investment. "A more appealing denominator is that the overall direction of the economy will remain positive," he added. Aziz said Pakistan's nuclear programme has ensured its security and it was at peace with its immediate neighbours.
Aziz, currently on a private visit to UK, paid rich tributes to Abdul Kader Jaffer and the Ahmad E H Jaffer Foundation for its keen interest in education and establishing a quality educational institute in Pakistan.