LAHORE: Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has said the government is determined to improve the national economy to uplift the living standard of common man.

Addressing a Salam Teachers Day ceremony at Awan-i-Iqbal on Saturday, Mr Buzdar, about JUI-F’s Azadi March, said Pakistan was facing serious internal and external challenges and that marches should be carried out for the eradication of poverty, unemployment, backwardness besides improving the health and education related facilities.

“I myself will participate in such a march,” he said.

He praised teachers for setting positive approach and developing thinking among their students.

“I salute teachers and feel proud to participate in Salam Teachers’ Day ceremony,” he said.

Mr Buzdar said the Punjab government declared 2019 the Teachers’ Year, introduced the e-transfer policy, changed medium of instruction form English to Urdu in primary classrooms and abolished grade five exams.

He said the government would give a Rs500,000 prize to best teacher under the Chief Minister Award Scheme at district level while the Insaf Health Cards would be issued to teachers and their family members.

He said a school in every district would be named after a best teacher.

He said the Punjab government was initiating Punjab Education Professional Standard Council Bill for the welfare of the teachers, while 100 model schools would be established in 10 districts.The construction of 2,500 new classrooms at primary level was being carried out in 13 districts.

He said the government would establish 1,000 science labs, 1,000 computer labs and 400 libraries while 615 classrooms would be constructed under Early Childhood Education Plan.

Published in Dawn, October 13th, 2019