HYDERABAD: Sindh Senior Education Minister Nisar Ahmed Khoro said on Thursday Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had used Rs550 billion for the circular debt but avoided spending a few billions to reinvigorate the Pakistan International Airlines and the Pakistan Steels Mills (PSM).

Nawaz Sharif was interested in running his steel mill in Saudi Arabia and not the PSM, he alleged, saying that the Sindh government wanted to buy the PSM because it was founded by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and that’s why it should not be handed over to any private party.

He alleged that the PM always preferred privatisation of profit-earning institutions at will.

He was speaking to reporters at an inter-collegiate declamation contest organised by the Alumni Association of Government College Kali Mori here on Thursday.

Urging youths to show passion for knowledge while speaking at the function, the Sindh senior education minister underlined the need for promoting higher education in Sindh. Youths should look beyond school and college level education if they wanted to compete in the world, he said.

He appreciated the association for organising such a productive activity for students, but remained unimpressed by the topic of the debate — Ilm hunar khan behtar aahey (education is better than skill) — on the ground that knowledge and skill could not be de-linked or separated.

He was all praise for the college administration and the alumni association for saving the land of the college that is going to complete its 100 years of foundation next year.

He said knowledge was the mother of all skills/inventions. He remarked that he would be delighted if the college organised a Pakistan level declamation contest to mark its centennial celebrations and Sindh won it.

The minster encouraged students to work hard and set examples on their own.

Quoting the example of Dr Adibul Hassan Rizvi, he said Dr Adib had made change possible in his institution that existed in the government-run Civil Hospital Karachi while Dr Bhatti ran a institute in Gambat for separate health facility. He also gave examples of the the Quaid-i-Azam, Z. A. Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto. He urged teachers to realise their duty. When teachers’ attendance improved, it would improve enrolment of students, he said and stated in a lighter vein that it was ‘knowledge and education’ that enabled him to use skill of the biometric system to bring teachers to schools.

He said the number of private schools would drop once the government-run schools started delivering.

Talking to the reporters, he said the Sindh government was considering introducing its own Ehtesab commission law. The Sindh government would challenge a SHC judgement on a recent amendment to the local government law, he added.

He said the condition of show of hands was introduced to avoid allegations of horse-trading. He said the newly-elected local governments would be empowered, but no one should try to create hurdles in the Sindh government’s working.

The Sindh government did not restrain NAB from its work, though it did express reservations when NAB along with law enforcement agencies took some actions which were beyond their mandate.

He said the law enforcement agencies were required to take action against target killers, extortionists and those involved in kidnappings for ransom.

Published in Dawn, February 12th, 2016