KARACHI, Feb 7: City Nazim Naimatullah Khan has said that new system of governance is a changed one whereby basic problems of the people are being solved in their respective areas.

Pointing out that Karachi is the world’s sixth biggest city, and it contributes 75 per cent of revenue and has 75 per cent of industrial units, the Nazim said despite this the city was ignored in the past, but now its people have started getting their rights.

He was speaking as chief guest at the inaugural session of second three-day international physics education conference at NIPA on Friday.

The conference was organized on the topic of “New thinking in physics education”, with the cooperation of the National Centre for Physics, Islamabad, Physics Department, University of Karachi, and APWA Government Girls College.

Naimatullah said at the city government had inherited 4,500 schools and 92 colleges and since the establishment of the new setup, the city government had added eight new colleges.

He said the condition of these institutions was worst. Many were without roofs, bath-rooms, windows, doors and fans. The children used to sit on the floor as they had no benches.

The Nazim observed that in a condition where there is no academic environment in educational institutions, what progress could be achieved in the field of science.

“We paid special attention on such state of affairs and determined the directions for improvement in the system”.

In the first phase, the buildings were repaired and reconstructed with the provision of facilities while in the second phase, we took steps for improving the standard of education and now one can see a visible change between now and then,” Naimatulah Khan said.

The city government, he said, was focusing on education and allocation of 31 per cent of budget was an indication of the city government’s intention.

He said private institutions have made education a commercial venture and it was for this reason that the city government had paid highest attention to it so that children of poor and middle income people could get better facilities in government-run institutions.

Naimatullah said that scientists of the 21st Century should provide peace and respite to people through physics and chemistry.

He recalled that scientists of the 20th Century used their scientific knowledge for ruination of humanity. They eliminated Hiroshima and Nagasaki, gave two world wars and made the humanity to face destruction. But the scientists of the 21st Century should use science for promoting peace and harmony.

He said war offers no solution to any issue. The world situation is not good and another world war would be more destructive. And, therefore, physics and chemistry should be used for promoting peace.

The ceremony was also addressed by Prof Fahim, Dr Fazila and VC Dr Zafar Saifi.

—APP