GUJRAT, Oct 4: Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi has said that provision of basic facilities to the education sector is the top priority of his administration.

He was speaking after inaugurating the newly constructed block of the Government Fatima Jinnah Degree College for Women and laying foundation of Aysha Hostel here on Saturday.

Mr Elahi said Rs150 million per annum would be provided to each district to provide basic facilities to the teachers and the students. He expressed the hope that the step would raise the standard of education in the province.

Special emphasis would be on hiring highly qualified teachers and providing training to the existing staff, he added.

He said monitoring committees would be formed for judicious use of funds.

He regretted that Pakistan’s literacy rate was even lower than that of Bangladesh.

The chief minister said those girl students of rural areas who would complete primary education would be given Rs200 per month till the completion of their matriculation.

He announced that primary students would be provided textbooks free of cost. He promised a library for the residents of Ram Piari Hostel and three buses for the college. He also announced setting up of a university in the district this year.

He also mentioned the role of Fatima Jinnah in the field of education.

He said no nation could progress without raising the standard of education.

Provincial Education Minister Mian Imran Masood said the government planned to raise the standard of education and that was the reason it had increased the budget for the sector from Rs1,500 million to Rs31,000 million.

He said Rs60 million had been sanctioned for setting up of university in Gujrat.

Later, the chief minister visited Kharian where he inaugurated several uplift and developmental schemes.

District Nazim Shafaat Husain and MNA Wajahat Husain were also present on the occasion.