RAWALPINDI, April 13: President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday asked the youth to gain expertise in science and technology to steer the country to the fast-paced economic progress befitting its enormous potential. The president also underlined the importance of learning English language, saying it is the language of science, technology and diplomacy.

“We must be proud of our national language Urdu and must speak it - at the same time we should learn Arabic so that we are able to read and understand the Holy Quran ourselves and are not always dependent on others,” he emphasized at an award distribution ceremony held to recognize the ‘top achievers’ in ‘O’ and ‘A’ level international examinations at his camp office here.

He pointed out that advancement in science subjects would help build a vibrant economy on the robust agricultural base and set the pace for self-reliance and sustained progress.

Informing the students about the government’s efforts to develop human resources, he said, the focus had been on utilizing the full potential of the people.

“We are endeavouring to improve the quality of our human resources as it enhances the nation’s economic power — we are doing so by enhancing literacy level, reducing poverty and ameliorating health conditions,” he said.

The president referred to the reforms in education system, including improvement in curricula and examination system, adult literacy, interventions through human development in rural areas.

He underlined the important role of teachers in grooming the young talent and said the government had embarked on a training programme to raise the standard of teaching.

The president said the government’s emphasis on higher education has led to a manifold increase in both the number and quality of PhDs.

As a result, he added, the country would produce about 1,500 PhDs in science and technology subjects.

On the occasion, the president announced a prize of Rs5,000 for each student who performed national song ‘Dosti’ and an equal amount for the student who recited verses from the Holy Quran.

The director, British Council, Tom Craig Cameron, lauded the performance of Pakistani students, 37 of whom topped in 19 subjects in the world.

He observed that the large number of Pakistani girl students among the world’s best achievers clearly reflects that Pakistan is a moderate and progressive society.—APP

The President gave awards to students who achieved the highest grades in various subjects in the Cambridge International and the University of London Edexcel examinations-2004, a reporter adds.

The ‘O’ and ‘A’ level General Certificate of Examinations (GCEs) were administered by the British Council.

Last year the British Council conducted more than 100,000 GCE examinations in Pakistan, part of the nearly 180,000 UK examinations (including IELTS, ACCA and PLAB) held across the country.

Earlier, in February, the council arranged awards ceremonies for high achievers in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi where certificates of recognition were presented to GCE students who topped in the world, in the region, in their schools and those who had the most A grades. For the first time ACCA students were also included.