KARACHI: The higher education budget has been increased from Rs43 billion to Rs78 billion showing the high priority status the government gives to this sector, said Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reform Dr Ahsan Iqbal in a speech at Karachi University International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS) on Saturday.

The minister was delivering an address at the opening ceremony of the Centre for Bioequivalence Studies and Clinical Research at the ICCBS.

“The government is making efforts to make higher education accessible to every youth in the country. The National Curriculum Council (NCC) has been set up to reform the education sector. The centre’s prime aim is to encourage critical thinking among students,” he said.

The NCC would introduce standardised examination system in the country, a major initiative following the 18th constitutional amendment under which the subject of education had been devolved to provinces, he added.

He urged the youth to explore new avenues and develop positive thinking, while highlighting the importance of self-believe in the life of an individual.

He appreciated the university efforts in setting up a research facility of international standards and announced government support for the institution.

Linking the country’s prosperity with a durable peace in Karachi, he said that economic stability and prosperity was possible through knowledge-based and research-oriented society. He described Pakistan-China economic corridor as an initiative that would change Pakistan’s destiny.

“The government is focusing on the export goal of $150 billion by 2025 and plans to set up a US-Pakistan knowledge corridor that could help the country learn from US experiences and successes in the field of education, science and technology.”

Dr Iqbal Choudhary heading the ICCBS said that the centre for bioequivalence studies was the first certified reference laboratory in the country that would conduct bioequivalence evaluation and development of generic pharmaceutical products in full compliance with the regulatory authorities in Europe, the US and Japan.

“The centre has complete testing facilities that include clinical monitoring of patents, blood sample analysis, statistical analysis and evaluation of equivalence of products. It is initially being funded by the government of Pakistan and ultimately would become a profit-earning organisation.”

KU vice chancellor Prof Mohammed Qaiser said that the university had played a pivotal role in promoting higher education especially its centre for chemical and biological sciences.

Former minister of science and technology Prof Atta-ur-Rahman appreciated the government step to increase the higher education budget and shared some suggestions on improving the higher education standards.

Published in Dawn, August 23rd, 2015

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