Uniform education policy

Published August 9, 2006

LAHORE, Aug 8: Punjab Education Minister Mian Imran Masood has said that a plan is on the anvil to have a uniform education policy in all the four provinces after identifying the gray areas so that desired results can be achieved.

He said the federal central government was spending some 2.2 per cent of the GDP on education at the moment and was planning to enhance it to four per cent to give boost to the existing research and development facilities in the country. He also said that the 2.2 per cent of GDP allocation for education sector was not sufficient.

Mr Masood was speaking at the concluding session of a two-day conference on “Proposed framework for a model national science and technology policy” at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Tuesday.

He said the government was giving a special attention towards the improvement of literacy rate as well as quality market-oriented education to the youth in the country.

He said the federal government was now going to establish six new engineering universities to produce engineers in the country.

Speaking on the occasion, executive committee member Abu Zar said the government must check the law and order situation as the increasing number of dacoities would compel foreign as well as local investors to go to some other countries for their businesses.

Former senior vice-president Sohail Lashari also spoke.