ISLAMABAD, April 7: Chairman of Higher Education Commission (HEC) Prof Dr Attaur Rahman on Thursday urged the students to get education, which was necessary for the development and prosperity of the country. He was speaking at an inaugural session of a three-day Students’ Convention 2005 at Jinnah Convention Centre, organized by the HEC in collaboration with Ministry of Education.

Minister for Education Lt-Gen.(retired) Javed Ashraf Qazi, Prof Dr S. Sohail H. Naqvi, Prof Stanley Wolpert along with the representatives of various educational institutions were also present.

The theme of the convention this year is: Jinnah’s vision of Moderate Pakistan; National Integration: Opportunities and Challenges and Learning to live together in global community.

As many as 95 students from more than 50 public and private sector educational institutions are participating in the event from all over Pakistan.

Dr Attaur Rehman, highlighting the importance of education, said it was need of the hour to introduce the upgraded education in a view to stand with other countries in this modern world.

He urged the students to get education so that they could be able to solve the problems, which were existing in the society.

“You have to realize that what is going on in the world and where we are standing aimed at achieving the targets of modern world”, he added.

The Chairman said: “We are investing in education sector which is vital for the development of the country. Today we are providing best facilities to the students including access of text books at their home by using internet.”

Dr Atta said this convention would plan an important role in building, promoting and exchanging their views along with promoting cultural integration among them.

He further said students convention, now an annual activity, was one of the initiatives taken by the government to engage the students in constructive dialogue on critical issues, inculcate, tolerance, moderation and develop leadership qualities in them.

Earlier, the minister for education hailed the efforts of girl students and urged them to get education to perform their responsibilities in the best possible way.

He said their role could not be ignored especially in Pakistan where their active participation was necessary for the development of country.

The minister said the government was playing a vital role to promote quality education and elevating the literacy rate in the country.

“We have to moderate ourselves if we have to stand with other countries, he said and added we are trying our best to upgrade the educational system in the country which is need of the time.”

The minister also highlighted the importance of Islamic education and said Islam gave lesson of tolerance and brotherhood.

He further said “We have to follow the vision of Quaid-i- Azam and need to eliminate politics from education sector”.— APP