Strengthening higher learning institutions: World Bank official lauds Pakistan's steps

Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer World Bank Sri Mulyani Indrawati has appreciated the steps taken by the Government of Pakistan to strengthen the higher learning institutions, saying that these institutions have a key role in the socio-economic development of a country.
This she said while at a special session held at Higher Education Commission (HEC), Islamabad on Tuesday which was attended by vice chancellors, faculty members, research scholars and students. Over 60 universities of the country were connected through video conferencing. Indrawati thanked the HEC for providing an opportunity to talk to educators, students and hear from them.
She said that Pakistan has shown good economic progress during the last few years due to right steps taken by the government, however she emphasised that the country needs to do much more to compete at regional as well as global level. The WB Managing Director said that Pakistan has a huge potential of human as well as natural resources that need to be tapped properly. She said Pakistan's growing middle class was representing a powerful engine for change. Terming macro-economic stability of the country as encouraging, she stressed that a lot needs to be done.
While referring to peaceful transfer of power from one democratic government to another in 2013, Indrawati said that this is a good sign and a critical achievement for Pakistan. She said that Pakistan's people have proved themselves resilient in the face of extremist attacks, natural disasters, frequent floods and extreme weather. "But I want to focus on what, in my view, are the two most important challenges, both obvious and urgent. To reach its full potential Pakistan needs to make better use of its people and its position in the neighbourhood and the world."
She said that Pakistan is the 6th most populous country of the world with half population which is less than 24 years, adding that the country needs to effectively use its human resource and facilitate their participation through all means. She particularly mentioned the dropout rate of students at country's primary and secondary levels. She also highlighted the importance of gender equality in the development process, terming it indispensable for enhancing productivity.
Indrawati underscored the importance of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) for Pakistan's economic growth. She said that Pakistan should effectively take benefit of its strategic location for achieving economic objectives. She further said that attracting foreign and local investment was imperative for sustained economic growth, in addition to consensus on economic strategies across the political spectrum.-PR