May 12, 2002	Sunday	Safar 28, 1423

ISLAMABAD, May 11: The education budget will be increased from the existing 2.2 per cent of the GNP to four per cent by 2004, Education Minister Zubaida Jalal said here on Saturday.

She was speaking at the 31st convocation and prize distribution ceremony held at the Federal Government College for Women F-7/2.

“I am pleased to say that the government, by initiating a reformed and revised education policy, has accelerated its crusade against illiteracy and such efforts will continue till the time we achieve tangible literacy rate, atleast on a par with developing countries,” she said.

The minister said it had now been proved through repeated surveys and in-depth researches that investment in other sectors such as trade and commerce would be useless without investing in the education sector. The best capital a country can have is its human capital, she added.

She said economic miracles that occurred in the East Asian countries such as South Korea, Thailand and Malaysia were because these countries invested in education that brought them economic development.

Commenting on the action plan being implemented by her ministry, she said minimizing disparities between rural and urban schools and between men and women; promotion of research education and improvement of examination system at all levels were some of the areas the ministry was concentrating on.

Speaking to the graduating students, the minister urged them to serve the country to the best of their abilities because it was a fact that lack of education continued to be the greatest single burden that Pakistan would face in the next half a century.

“We the more fortunate, the enlightened, the powerful, must take stock of the present literary scenario of the country which explains that educating girls yields higher rates of return than any other investment available in the developing countries,” she said.

She wrapped up her speech with one of Quaid-i-Azam’s sayings, “No sacrifice of time or personal comfort should be regarded as too great for advancement of the cause of education”.

The college’s principal Tazeem Zafar presented the annual report and informed the guests about the entire string of academic and extra-curricular activities which took place in the last academic year.

While appreciating the initiatives taken by the minister for improvement of education, particularly women education, she said: “The nation is proud of its federal minister for education for her initiative, drive and efforts for the uplift of female education in particular and elevation of the standards of education in general”.

She said F.G. College for Women F-7/2, established in 1967, had transformed into a mini university due to the commitment of its staff.

In the end, students, who secured positions, were awarded medals, certificates and roles of honour.

Maryam Farooqi, who appeared in Higher Secondary School Certificate examination from the college, got the overall first position in the Federal Board by securing 916 marks.

Najia Abbas and Amina Agha were awarded gold medals by the Punjab University in BA and BSc (home economics) examinations 1998-2000 for securing 608 and 1,994 marks respectively.

Khadija Pervez of BA class 1998-2000 was declared the best student of the college due to her all round performance in academic as well as extra-curricular activities.