March 31, 2006	Friday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 1, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, March 30: Minister of State for Information and Media Development Annisa Zeb Tahir Kheli on Thursday said education budget would be raised to four per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

She disclosed this at the concluding ceremony of Pakistan Day celebrations week at the F.G. Margalla College for Women, F- 7/4.

The minister said education was one of the top priorities of the government, adding that Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz had made it clear that education budget would be raised to the international standard.

She, however, showed concerns over what she said the burgeoning population. “There are no restrictions in the religion on how many children one should have. But parents should themselves judge and decide how big a family will they be able to support and groom in a better way. One well-educated and well- groomed child is better than 10 children who are under-qualified and malnourished,” she observed.

The minister said low literacy rate was the cause of many problems in the country. With a high percentage of illiterate population, “we cannot choose right people for our assemblies,” she said, adding that 55 per cent people did not cast votes which was their right as well as duty. She also pointed out the flaws in the education system and the prevailing corruption and presence of mafias controlling affairs in the universities and other educational institutions.

She stressed on the students to be pragmatic and follow the teachings of Islam in their true spirit. “We must stick to our cultural norms and protect them from foreign onslaught, she said.

The state minister said soon after the creation of Pakistan, several problems proved to be stumbling blocks to its march towards progress. She mentioned the recurrent military intervention, martial laws and vested interests which hampered strengthening of democratic institutions. This also prevented the country from becoming a welfare state. Similarly, national cohesion is lacking, she added.

When asked about the present army intervention, she said it was a civil-military combination to ensure good governance. She praised the role of army in different public sector organizations and departments.

The state minister underlined the role of media in inculcating good morals and religious norms among youth and putting the country on the path to development. She said Pakistan was the only country which came into being in the name of ideology, adding that it was religion which had unified people of the four provinces. It is, therefore, necessary that “we further strengthen our religious beliefs and norms,” she said.

Eminent media expert Mughisuddin Sheikh, in his lecture, stressed on the students to firmly adhere to their religious norms and Islamic culture, adding that in this way only could we maintain our identity. He regretted that some people felt proud and more civilized while copying western culture. He said such people only had psychological complexes. “The closer we are to our religion and traditions, the more patriotic we will be,” he observed.

He also objected to some programmes and content on TV channels and print media, saying such stuff was polluting the minds of the young generation instead of giving them any lesson.

Mr Sheikh also criticized NGOs, and claimed that they were working as foreign agents only to mint money and please their masters.

In his opinions, educational institutions and training centres play a great role in moulding the minds of the young generation and inculcating in them good habits.