Prime minister awarding a degree to a student at the Air University convocation. PHOTO: INP
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said that knowledge was the basic currency of an economy and has supplanted land, labour and capital as the wealth of nations.
He said this on Thursday while speaking at the fourth convocation of Air University at the Convention Centre.
Sharif said the government was working on a plan to develop an education system that will cater to the needs of a knowledge-based economy.
Sharif said that he firmly believed in strengthening the country’s educational institutes as gateways of knowledge. “Education is a prerequisite for democracy.”
“We want to strengthen democratic norms to be able to tolerate different opinions and to understand that everyone has the right to express their views. This would only be possible through education,” he said.
Sharif said that he has the dream of a Pakistan where every citizen got a “real education” and contributed to the development of the country.
The premier stressed that science and technology were engines of growth in modern economies and must be an integral part of the country’s education system. He also called for including vocational trainings to produce skilled workers.
The prime minister said the educational system should foster creativity, sound judgment and analytical abilities among the students. “It should also promote tolerance and openness towards others’ points of view and cultures,” he said.
Sharif said that in developed economies, every member of society was part of the development process. He regretted that in Pakistan, the capacity of half the population was underutilised. He emphasised that the education policy must prioritise female education to bridge the gender gap and stressed the need to ensure effective participation of women in decision-making and protect their respect and dignity.
The premier urged women to come forward and enter fields, which were previously considered for males only, to contribute to the development of the country.
He gave the reference of the recent induction of female fighter pilots and officers in the armed forces, which, he said, was testament to the fact that all citizens have equal opportunities to serve Pakistan.
He extended his felicitations to over 1,000 students who graduated in the fields of engineering, basic and applied sciences, social sciences and business administration.
The premier also talked about Dr Kiran Sultan, who was the first person to have received her PhD from Air University in electrical engineering.
Earlier, Air University Vice Chancellor Dr Ijaz Ahmad Malik highlighted the salient features of the university’s academic programmes and said the institution is focusing on research-oriented activities. Higher Education Commission Chairperson Dr Mukhtar Ahmed and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt was also present.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 25th, 2014.
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