ISLAMABAD, Feb 14: The federal cabinet on Wednesday decided to increase the public-private investment in the education sector to four per cent of the Gross Domestic Product next year, from 2.6 per cent, and lift the literacy rate to 65 per cent from 53 per cent.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, who briefed newsmen after a cabinet meeting, said the cabinet reviewed the educational atmosphere in light of the reforms introduced by the government and found all indicators encouraging.

He said billions of rupees had been set aside to enhance facilities in the public sector educational institutions, providing free education up to matriculation with textbooks and increasing scholarships.

The reforms programme, he said, aimed at mainstreaming the madressahs, providing training and maximum perks to teachers and improving the quality of education.

The cabinet took serious note of the increase in the prices of cement and decided to take immediate steps to bring it down.

The industries minister, who had worked out an accord with the manufacturers to fix the price at Rs260 per bag, was asked to take steps to reduce it and propose suitable measures to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council, including import of cement and restriction on its export.

The Monopoly Control Authority was directed to investigate the factors behind the price increase. The cabinet discussed the Kashmir issue with reference to the ongoing dialogue with India and expressed the hope that the dispute would be resolved in accordance with the aspirations of Kashmiri people.

The cabinet ratified a memorandum of understanding with Zimbabwe pertaining to cooperation between armed forces and endorsed signing an agreement with the United Arab Emirates on mutual legal assistance in matters related to crimes and an agreement with Egypt on abolition of visa for diplomatic passport holders.

The interior ministry’s proposal to enter into negotiations with Saudi Arabia on transfer of offenders was approved. The cabinet also approved the ministry’s proposal to negotiate visa abolition agreements with the UAE and Libya for holders of diplomatic and official passports.

The cabinet expressed satisfaction over the decision of the neutral expert appointed by the World Bank on Baglihar dam.

Agencies add: The prime minister said more than 95 per cent of the country’s estimated 13,000 madressahs had been registered.

Madressah students constituted 4.5 per cent of the enrolled students in the country, he said.

He said the government had introduced English language and computer courses from class I in normal schools.

He said the cabinet had decided to take measures to increase the number of vocational training institutes and improve the curriculum across the country.

Replying to a question about high fees, the prime minister said the provinces had made necessary legislations to supervise the private education sector.