01 October 2004	Friday	15 Shaban 1425

HYDERABAD, Sept 30: Sindh Education Minister Hamida Khuhro has said the government is working to revamp the education department so that children are given quality education without any discrimination.

Speaking as chief guest at the annual function of the Bahria Foundation College here on Thursday, she emphasized the need for cooperation between public and private sectors to achieve the goal.

Lauding services of the Bahria Foundation in the field of education, the minister said institutions established by the foundation had maintained discipline and good standard of education.

She called upon other educational institutions to work with the same spirit, especially to provide good education to people in remote areas. Ms Khuhro praised students of the college who presented a tableau and national songs, saying such activities would create confidence among students, which was essential for their career building.

She also distributed shields and merit certificates among outstanding students of the college. Bahria Foundation managing director vice-admiral Irfan Ahmad said the foundation planned to extend its educational network to interior of Sindh.

He observed that cooperation of local people and the Sindh government was required to promote educational activities, specially in rural areas. He also presented a shield to the minister on behalf of the foundation.

On her arrival at the college, the minister was given a briefing about the foundation by the director of the Education and Training, South, Bahria Foundation, Syed Tayyab Naqvi.

She was told that the foundation was operating 42 colleges in the country, out of which 19 were in Sindh. Mr Naqvi said 25 per cent students enrolled in these colleges were being provided education free of cost on poverty-cum-merit basis.

He said vacant buildings of Mono-technical Institute, Tando Muhammad Khan, and the I. H. Zubairi College, Qasimabad, should be provided to the Bahria Foundation so that they could be used for the benefit of people.

Replying to a question, Mr Naqvi said the foundation had initiated a teachers' training programme, adding that 140 teachers were getting training in the first phase. The principal of the college, Aziz Ellahi Ansari, requested the government to provide assistance to the insititute in providing transport facilities to students.

JSQM: Activists of the Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz held a protest demonstration outside the press club here on Tuesday against the arrest of party city organizer Dhani Bux Abro.

Speaking on the occasion, JSQM leaders Murtaza Mughal, Shehzad Memon, Amjad Sindhi and others warned that if Mr Abro was not released within 48 hours, protest demonstrations would be held throughout the province. They also demanded arrest of the killers of party leader Gul Mohammad Bhatti.

ENCROACHMENTS: Hyderabad Development Authority director-general Tahir Ahmad on Tuesday appointed a committee to remove encroachments on the HDA property in City, Latifabad and Qasimabad talukas. The committee, headed by the building control department director, will complete the task with the help of police and will also take legal action against encroachers.