18 February 2004	Wednesday	26 Zilhaj 1424

ISLAMABAD, Feb 17: The government has prepared and processed concept papers for setting up of 105 more polytechnic institutes at a cost of $130 million (Rs7 billion), Education Minister Zubaida Jalal said here on Tuesday.

She was talking to Norbert Lammert, vice-president of the German Federal Parliament, during a meeting. She said technical education was a major tool to produce required manpower for the growth of industrial, agricultural and commercial sectors. The government, she said, was according top priority to technical education in the country.

The minister said concept clearance committee had approved the concept papers with the directions that consent for loan acceptance might also be sought from the provinces.

The internal provincial education ministers meeting is being convened every two months to monitor developmental activities in the country and to promote national integration through education.

Ms Jalal said the government was exploring the possibility of project funding by donor agencies like Islamic Development Bank, Asian Development Bank and Japan International Cooperation Agency.

She said an allocation of Rs300 million was made for technical education in the PSDP 2003-04. The ministry is seeking more funds from national resources as well as the international donor agencies for promoting technical education, she added.

At present, 78 polytechnics/ mono techniques/ colleges of technology are imparting education to the youth in the age group of 16 and above. The minister said both the previous and the present governments, considering the pivotal role of technical education, had issued directions to set up at least one quality polytechnic institute at every district headquarter.

Similar institutes will also be set up in phases at Tehsil level, she said, adding that it would be ensured that all existing schools provided vocational training.

She also said these vocational institutes would be linked with the micro finance banks, which, in turn, would provide interest-free loans to the students on soft terms.

Mr Lammert said the bilateral relations between Pakistan and Germany would be strengthened through cooperation and assistance in the education sector. He also lauded the government's efforts in rooting out terrorism from the country through curriculum. He also assured the minister of his country's cooperation in the education sector of Pakistan.