BAHAWALPUR, Feb 28: Thousands of talented and promising students belonging to less privileged background should be provided opportunities to get education in the country’s premier institutions like the Sadiq Public School.

This was stated by Governor Khalid Maqbool while addressing the 53rd Founder’s Day function of the SPS here on Wednesday.

Acknowledging the role of such institutions in nation building, the governor said such elite schools were rendering valuable services to the country by producing leaders in all walks of life. These were the symbol of national integration as students from all four provinces were studying there. But what was required was that the children with less privileged families should also be accommodated in these institutions, he stressed.

He said on the directive of President Gen Pervez Musharraf, public schools were being established in Mianwali, Sialkot and other places. He thanked the Abu Dhabi ruler for granting Rs10 million for the construction of girls’ campus in SPS.

The governor lauded the services of the late Nawab Sadiq Muhammad Khan Abbasi for the establishment of educational institutions like the SPS and the defunct Jamia Abbasia which was later upgraded to a full-fledged university.

Earlier, SPS Principal Malik Muhammad Asif dwelt on the history of the institution and its achievement in curricular and extracurricular activities.

The governor gave away medals, certificates and prizes to the distinguished students. A 10-year old student, Anam Fatima presented her novel to the governor who appreciated her literary work in English language.

Two arrested: Yazman police claimed on Wednesday to have arrested two people, including husband of a woman who was set to fire on Tuesday, from Chak 144/DB, about 65 kilometres from here.

According to police, Abdul Aziz wanted to divorce his wife Manzooran, a mother of two, and marry the daughter of his co-accused and uncle Allah Jawaya. This led to the dispute between the couple.

On Tuesday, they had an exchange of hot words on the issue and Aziz, Allah Jawaya and his son Altaf pinioned Manzooran to a cot, doused her with kerosene and set her ablaze.

Police have arrested Aziz and Allah Jawaya.