May 31, 2008	Saturday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 25, 1429

ISLAMABAD, May 30: It was imperative for students to focus on their education as a prime duty and equip themselves with modern knowledge for the progress of country.

This was stated by Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Information Technology Qamaruz Zaman Kaira here on Friday, while speaking at a prize distribution ceremony of ‘Sports week’ at the Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology.

He urged the students to fight against the evil of illiteracy to get rid the country of the poverty.

Terming the student unions as ‘nurseries’ that breed future leaders by preparing students to shoulder future responsibilities in national politics, he appreciated government’s initiative of removing ban on the unions and urged students to make a positive use of this opportunity.

Instead of involving themselves in politics, they should keenly observe the political happenings in the country and use this platform to raise their voices against any wrong deed of the politicians, he added.

Ensuring quality education to all was government’s priority and mentioned in the PPP’s manifesto as well, he said, adding that there was a need for evolving a system wherein every child could have an easy access to the public institutions.

Appreciating the role of private sector in this regard, the minister urged the government institutions to work in collaboration with private sector for promotion of education in the country.

Dr Muhammad Qaiser, vice chancellor of the university, on the occasion highlighted the importance of co-curricular activities.

He also pointed out the need for establishing a campus of the university in the federal capital as, he added, presently the university was being run in a rented building with expenses of Rs2.5 million per year.