MULTAN, Oct 24: Punjab Governor Salman Taseer on Friday said that coalition government of the PPP and PML-N in Punjab will remain intact.

Talking to a delegation of People’s Lawyers Forum (PLF) at Circuit House, the governor said the PPP could have formed its own government in NWFP as well but it offered the opportunity to ANP that strengthened political tolerance and national solidarity.

He said unanimous resolution adopted during the in-camera session of parliament on terrorism was a great success of the PPP government.

The governor said that there would be no compromise on peace and sovereignty of the country and our war would continue till the elimination of terrorism.

Earlier, presiding over his maiden meeting with the officials of Bahauddin Zakariya University (BZU), Multan, as chancellor of the university, the governor urged academicians to promote art and culture to strengthen the bond with our heritage and to overcome the menace of extremism.

He said that public sensitisation through a stronger attachment to culture and heritage would help us become more tolerant.

This would also send a clear message across the world that Islam and its followers believed in humanity and peace, not in intolerance and extremism.

He asked vice-chancellor (VC) Prof Dr Muhammad Zafarullah to hold a Punjabi 'mushaira' to help students actively participate in cultural activities.

He said the BZU should also focus on Seraiki language promotion and research.

He lauded the establishment of Multan College of Arts functioning under the auspices of BZU.

Later, during an interaction with teachers at the VC office, the governor said that South Punjab was the land of Hazrat Khwaja Ghulam Farid, Surraiya Multanikar and Pathanay Khan and added that delegations from this area should be sent to foreign countries to highlight its culture. He said that the poetry of mystic poets gave the message of love and peace.

The governor observed that the number of PhDs did not reflect progress, but the quality of the PhDs and the research papers they produced matters.

Taseer said teachers enjoyed a respectable status in society, adding that his father was also a teacher who did his PhD from English and served as principal of Islamia College, Lahore.

The governor pledged to work for the development of universities despite financial constraints and limited resources.

About the proposal for building a golf course at BZU, he said that there was a need to re-allocate the money as carefully as possible to achieve the goals set for development of higher education.

He urged the university authorities to introduce modern subjects and disciplines and elevate the standard of education so that people take pride in approaching the BZU for higher learning.

Referring to student politics, the governor made it clear that those interested in doing politics should do it outside the university campus.

Some girls requested the governor to enhance scholarship allocations, on which the governor said that he was happy to note that girls constituted 50 per cent of the total BZU students strength and promised that he would try to enhance scholarships for the university students.

An office-bearer of the Employees Welfare Association Niaz Lodhi requested the governor that their service structure be approved and a housing scheme be launched for them.

The VC said that the matter of service structure was in process and feasibility for a staff colony was under preparation.

Later, talking to newsmen after laying the foundation stone of Zainab Hall, a Rs10 million BZU girls hostel project, the governor said that student unions were meant to highlight and convey the problems of students to authorities concerned.

To a question on entry test for medical colleges, Taseer said that the government was rethinking the issue and a committee had been formed to discuss the matter and submit recommendations.

The governor lauded the establishment of BZU sub-campuses in Sahiwal and Dera Ghazi Khan and promised to try for government and Higher Education Commission (HEC) funding for the development of the university.

He said that being the chancellor, it was his priority to promote modern education and culture in universities and transform the institutions into centres of higher learning, knowledge and research.

Later, a delegation of Dawat-i-Islami also met with the governor and requested for uninterrupted power supply to hold their annual congregation in Multan. —APP