SWABI: Jamaat-i-Islami chief Sirajul Haq on Sunday stressed the need for giving youths the modern education saying this is crucial for the country’s economic progress and political stability.

He was speaking at the prize distribution ceremony of the All Pakistan TechFest organised by the Society of Mechanical Engineering Pakistan (SMEP) student chapter of the Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology here.

Teachers and students of various engineering universities participated in the three-day event.

The JI chief said if he got a chance to rule the country, he would introduce uniform curriculum from nursery to matriculation level in both government and private schools.

Says after defence, education should get the most funds

He said after matriculation, students should be allowed to choose the field of their choice to contribute to national progress.

“After coming to power, we will bring three million students studying in religious institutions to the mainstream of contemporary education,” he said.

Siraj said quality education could help steer the country out of the current crises.

“Only education could keep our nation united and strong. The government should utilise the maximum resources to improve the standards of education and reach out to the poor people with educational facilities,” he said.

The JI chief said after defence, education should get the most budgetary allocations.

He said it was time that the governments should move beyond the rhetoric and do something tangible to improve the standard of education.

Siraj said he thought education should remain domain of the federal government even after the 18th Constitutional Amendment.

He said educated youths could work as true guardians of the country’s ideology.

The JI chief said unemployment could be eliminated by promoting quality education, which was a tool for economic development, political stability, strong democracy and peaceful society.

He said the people’s access to quality education should be guaranteed by the government.

“We advocate for provision of equal education to all sections of society. The poor and the affluent should have equal opportunities to get education,” he said.

Siraj praised the GIK Institute for offering quality education to youths.

Rector of the GIK Institute Jehangir Bashar said he had worked with Sirajul Haq when he was the provincial finance minister during the MMA government.

“I admire his (Sirajul Haq) capability and leadership qualities,” he said.

SMEP president Atir Khan also spoke on the occasion.

The JI chief later gave away shields and certificate to the teams, which showed outstanding performance in the three days TechFest.

Published in Dawn, March 24th, 2015

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