KARACHI:Shaukat opens university of marine sciences
KARACHI, April 30: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Saturday asked students to acquire latest knowledge from world sources to benefit Pakistan in this era of globalisation. The nations which do not get good education and knowledge from world sources tend to lag behind, he remarked.
He was speaking on the occasion of the inauguration of the University of Engineering, Science and Technology Pakistan (UESTP), which will provide higher education in the fields of maritime sciences, marine engineering and voyaging.
Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad, Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim, federal ministers, educationists and professors were also present on the occasion.
The prime minister said Pakistan has invited educationists and professors from leading nations, including Germany, France and Switzerland, to help promote education here.
He said UESTP will have the first vice-chancellor and professors from France. “This will help our students get benefit from French teachers. The university will also have Pakistani professors and teachers. We will learn from each other and this university will become a centre of excellence.”
The government has decided to bring in faculties of leading foreign universities to Pakistan for those students who cannot afford to go abroad. We want our students to learn from them and benefit Pakistan.
The Prime Minister said: “I had taken hardly minutes in according approval to this project when Senator Babar Ghauri gave me this proposal. I also asked him to start work on this project as soon as possible.
Now I am immensely delighted to see this project on the ground.”
The prime minister noted that merchant navy has an important role to play in the fast growing world economy. There is a big job market for merchant officers and cadets worldwide.
Referring to the successful launch of Shaheen-II missile, he said it shows that Pakistani scientists have made the country a nuclear power.
“This has boosted the respect and image of Pakistan. This has reinforced our defence and enhanced the stature of Pakistan in the comity of nations. It shows the world that Pakistanis are a serious nation,” he said.
Appreciating the efforts put in by Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping Babar Khan Ghauri in establishing the university, the prime minister said, “he presents new projects after every couple of months and his ministry has done a wonderful job. I will advise him to keep it up and initiate projects in other parts of the country.”
Mr Aziz said this ministry was also supposed to focus on developing ports. He noted that significant development activities were under way at the country’s three ports.
The private sector, he said, in the new shipping policy would be invited to play its role. “We want to attract private sector of Pakistan to bring in ships to facilitate trade. This will help attain a fast growth in exports and imports, thus increasing people’s income and generating more job opportunities.”
The prime minister pointed out that the government has significantly raised education budget. The budget for higher education has been increased by 1,500 per cent. “In my opinion, it is still not sufficient.”
Referring to the UESTP, he said it was very encouraging that this university would start working next year. He said the admissions would be on merit.
Earlier, Babar Khan Ghauri, in his welcome address, said the government would spend Rs20 billion to convert the Pakistan Marine Academy to the UESTP, spread over an area of 140 acres.
He said admissions to this university would start next year and it would produce 5,000 cadets.
The PMA has been handed over to the Higher Education Commission for transforming it into a world class university.
Senator Ghouri said that the government, recognizing the importance of maritime sector, has established an independent ministry for ports & shipping to exploit the potentials of maritime field. The ministry decided to revive earlier plans for the upgrading of the PMA to a maritime university. Eventually, it was decided to dovetail this project with that of the HEC for establishing the UESTP. He said he and Prof Attaur Rehman agreed to facilitate each other’s projects and establish the UESTP at the existing PMA campus.—APP
