Varsities purged of political interference

LAHORE:Governor Ch Muhammad Sarwar said on Wednesday that any sort of hurdle including bureaucratic would not be tolerated in the affairs of universities.Chief Minister and Provincial Minister for Higher Education were on the same page with regard to ensure transparency and merit. He was addressing the Universities Rectors Conference 2019 here at Governor House on Wednesday.Punjab University (PU) Vice Chancellor Prof Niaz Ahmed, a private university’s Rector Sameera Rehman, University of Health Sciences (UHS) Vice Chancellor Prof Javed Akram, Lahore Garrison University (LGU) Vice Chancellor and VCs of other universities of Punjab were also present on the occasion.Muhammad Sarwar said that like other institutions, the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf government had also purged the universities of political interference and all the decisions regarding universities were being made keeping in view the merit and transparency.The education sector was obliterated, whenever appointments on Vice Chancellors and other key posts of universities were made on political basis that was in no way in the interest of the country and the nation, he cited.Chaudhry Sarwar said that industry and academia synergy was need of the hour, asserting that Business Centres would be also be established in universities to materialise the graduating students’ ideas into business opportunity.He said that plan to incorporate representative of chambers of commerce and industry in the syndicate of respective universities was also being considered. He said that universities would have to play their role in the knowledge economy and research work of the varsities would also have a positive impact on the country’s economy. The governor added that Girls Guide and Scouts would also be revived in the universities and Girls Guide would be imparted a six-month free nurses course and this course would be initiated from Superior University.He vowed, “We have to empower women and youth in every field”. He said that Pakistan was advancing on economic front due to best economic policies of the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan, and the government had narrowed down current account deficit unprecedentedly.The Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) government had launched Kamyab Nowjawan Programme worth Rs 100 billion under which youth could receive loan from Rs 10,000 to Rs 5 million to get on their feet by started their own businesses, while 25 per cent quota has also been allocated in this programme for the women, he mentioned."We have to empower and prosper our youth because it will ensure country’s progress and prosperity", he opined.The governor said that Punjab Kashmir Committee had launched Million Signature Campaign against Indian aggression in Occupied Kashmir and “we are going to take this campaign to all the universities of the province”. He asserted, "We all should take part in this campaign actively so that world community could be given a message that every Pakistan is supporting the Kashmiris'' struggle for freedom and raising voice against Indian atrocities".-Consultation with businessmen to be continued: Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar has said that the government is committed to provide all possible facilities to the business community and continue its consultation with them to formulate key economic policies with a view to enhance country’s exports volume.He said that the government was well aware of the problems being faced by the trade and industrial sectors and it was undertaking every possible measure to provide a level playing field to the business community.He was addressing a grand reception of the Businessmen Panel hosted in honour of its chairman Mian Anjum Nisar. The Businessmen Panel on this occasion announced the candidates for the forthcoming election of Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) 2020 for all vice-presidents seats while former provincial minister Mian Anjum Nisar and Abdul Ghani Usman have already been nominated for the slots of president and senior vice-president respectively.

from The News International - Lahore https://ift.tt/2L2hyd9