RAWALPINDI, Dec 10: Minister for Information Sheikh Rashid Ahmad has said imparting quality education to the youth is the only way to defeat extremism and intolerance in society. He was speaking at the second convocation of Government Degree College for Girls, Dhoke Hassu, on Saturday.

He said education was the key to progress and prosperity and the younger generation should focus all their energies on acquiring modern knowledge.

The minister said the ratio of education in Rawalpindi was the highest and more institutions would be established to further increase the rate.

He said another girls college would be opened in the city this month, while the Dhoke Hassu college would be further upgraded.

He was satisfied with the education ratio amongst girls, saying that according to a survey female education percentage had gone up by 237 per cent whereas the ratio for males had decreased by 62 per cent.