ISLAMABAD, Oct 5: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said on Wednesday that no nation could progress without attaining high standards in education and it was a great challenge before Pakistan to achieve high literacy by upgrading education as well as utilising its maximum available resources.

Speaking at the International Teachers Day, known as ‘Salam Teachers Day’ in Pakistan, organized by the federal ministry of education, the premier said the country had already taken positive steps to attain maximum literacy, but it had still long way to go.

Giving the example of Malaysia, he said it had achieved tremendous progress, but more astonishing was that the country was spending 20 per cent of its budget on the education sector.

The premier said the government alone could not achieve the target without the participation of private sector, which was already playing its due role.

He appreciated the role of teachers in moulding the lives of their students and advised them to focus character building of their students.

The prime minister said teachers of the country had a pivotal contribution towards education through character building of their students.

Mr Aziz specially mentioned the constructive and positive role of seminaries in providing religious education and imparting skills to a large number of students across the country. The government desired to bring these institutions in the mainstream of education, he said.

He emphasised the need of reviving the lost status of teacher by providing more facilities and benefits to the teachers as well as paying due respect to them to enable them continue their proactive role in construction of a healthy, progressive and enlightened society.

Minister of State for Education Ghulam Bibi Bharwana, Higher Education Commission (HEC) Chairman Dr Ataur Rahman, National Human Development Commission (NHDC) chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf, senior bureaucrats and award-winning teachers were among the participants.

The prime minister gave away medals and commendation certificates to three dozen teachers adjudged as the best from the four provinces, AJK, Fata, Northern Areas and Islamabad Capital Territory and announced to send them on Umra on official expenses.