February 24, 2008	Sunday	Safar 16, 1429

LAHORE, Feb 23: Caretaker Prime Minister Muhammadmian Soomro has said election process was peaceful and transparent and all important decisions will be taken by the new government which will soon be in place.

He was talking to journalists here on Saturday after a ceremony held at Punjab University where he distributed scholarships among students of public sector varsities in the city from Baitul Maal funds.

Punjab Governor Khalid Maqbool, caretaker Chief Minister Justice Ejaz Nisar (retired), vice-chancellors of city varsities and Baitul Maal Director General Ahmed Nadeem Qadri were also present on the occasion.

Earlier, addressing the students, he said human resource was a great asset of the country and various programmes had already been initiated to fully utilise it for promoting economic activity to alleviate poverty and overcome unemployment.

He said during the last five years foundation had been laid for development of human resource by raising standard of education and imparting technical skills to the workforce to help meet challenges of globalisation.

He said provision of scholarships was part of the plan aimed at ensuring that talented youth could continue their studies and play their role in the national development.

He said special attention had also been paid to bring education in line with the industry requirements, besides a focus on research as it was a must for ensuring quality.

He hoped the next government would continue the policy of promoting education and development of skills.

Referring to various initiatives taken for utilisation of human capital for development and promotion of economic activity, he said: “It is humble beginning and if efforts in this regard continued we as a nation would not only be able to meet challenges of globalisation but also take full advantage of it.”

He said the government, fully realising the importance of faculty members, had taken effective steps to improve their financial condition.

He said besides equipping the youth with education and skills, various initiatives like micro-credit scheme were launched to generate economic activity to mitigate unemployment.

Speaking on the occasion, the governor said development funds worth billions of rupees had been provided to each varsity. “The amount was 100 times more than what was given to them (varsities) previously.”

He said besides supporting private sector for promotion of education, the government also tried to improve standard of private sector educational institutions, especially the higher seats of learning.

He said the tuition fee at the public varsities had not been revised upward even once during the last seven years, in spite of a remarkable improvement in their standard. “It speaks of our commitment to impart high quality education to the students from middle and lower class,” he added.

The students from Punjab University, University of Engineering and Technology, Government College University, University of Education, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences and Lahore College for Women University were given scholarships.—APP