RAWALPINDI, Feb 17: District Nazim Tariq Kiani on Tuesday said education ratio in Rawalpindi district was highest in Punjab. He was speaking as chief guest at the oath-taking ceremony of students council at Government Postgraduate College for Girls, Satellite Town, here.

The Nazim said: "Before August 2001, Rawalpindi district had been at the fifth rung with respect to the education ratio. But now it has reached the top. This was due to the top priority being given to this sector by the district administration. But this didn't mean we should be content with it," he said, adding, "There still existed much room for improvement."

Education, he said, was the backbone of progress in all sectors. "Education doesn't mean getting degrees, it is a continuous process that everyone should struggle to achieve throughout his life."

The Nazim said the district government was attaching top priority to education. He said the federal government had provided Rs150 million to the district government that would be spent on promotion of education in the district within this financial year.

The projects, which would be completed through this amount, have been finalised, he added. "Out of the total amount, Rs15.3 million would be provided to the Postgraduate College for Girls, 6th Road.

With this amount, eight additional classrooms and a physics block would be constructed in the college. Later on, another storey will be built on the building.

In addition, a separate tube well would be installed for the college this year. Servant quarters, which have not been repaired for a long time, will also be renovated."

The district Nazim praised the college for its outstanding performance in academic and extracurricular activities. It is the best college, he said. "This college is like a jewel in the crown.

Not only has it the biggest number of students but it also gives best results despite financial constraints and understaffing," he said.