KARACHI, Dec 12: The Sindh Governor, Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan, has said research was one area where Pakistani universities - public and private - seriously lagging behind.

He was speaking as the chief guest at the convocation of the Greenwich University on Saturday. The governor pointed out that varsity education was considered as a privilege even in the most developed countries of the world.

"Obviously in a developing country like Pakistan where the rate of illiteracy is more than 70 per cent, it is not only a great privilege, but a major responsibility as well," he said.

"I have great faith in the educated youth of Pakistan, as they are the ones who are going to provide the country with leadership and guidance and set it on the path of enlightenment and progress," said Ibad.

The governor said a consensus had developed over the fact that the greatest asset of a country lay in its human resources. He cited examples of countries like Japan, South Korea and Singapore and described them as living testimonies to the belief.

He pointed out that education in Pakistan was never taken seriously till President Pervez Musharraf came to power. "The present government is determined to rectify blunders of the past. For the first time in Pakistan's history, education is being accorded a high priority. Higher education, too, is receiving particular attention," he said.

However, he continued, it was obvious the government did not have enough resources to cater to the needs of the entire population, adding it was where the private varsities were expected to augment efforts of the public sector ones.

He noted with delight that Greenwich University is now expanding the scope of its academic activities by launching MPhil and PhD degrees in English and will be the first private university to do so. He said there was indeed a pressing demand to produce more MPhils and PhDs in the country to realise the need for developing a research culture. - APP