Future: ‘Nawaz believes in the youth of the country’

BAHAWALPUR:

Minister of State for Education, Professional Training, Interior and Narcotics Control Baleeghur Rehman said on Monday that restoring law and order, resolving the energy crisis, economic development and education were the four top priorities of the government.

“We are working hard to implement policies devised for these priorities,” he said. “We hope that a strong Pakistan will emerge as a result of these efforts.”

He was addressing a laptop distribution under Prime Minister’s National Programme for Provision of Laptops to Talented Students at Islamia University of Bahawalpur.

He said the offensive against terrorists in North Waziristan and along the Afghan border and the operation in Karachi would help restore the economy.

He said the government was working on the Dasoo Dam and Quaid-i-Azam Solar Park to ease the power crisis.

“The prime minister believes in the youth of the country and wants to utilise their potential for progress and prosperity,” he said.

He said the government had raised the budget for the Higher Education Commission several times.

“This year, Rs70 billion were allocated for the HEC,” he said. “Laptop distribution initiatives will ensure a digital revolution in the country.”

He said the Prime Minister’s Fee Reimbursement Scheme for the youth of Gilgit Baltistan, the FATA, Sindh, Balochistan and south Punjab was another example of the government’s dedication for youth development.

He said the IUB had been provided Rs860 million for various projects. He said he had confidence in the vice chancellor’s vision for improving the university’s ranking from fifth to the first.

Earlier, VC Qaiser Mushtaq said that 2,236 students had been provided laptops under the scheme.

He said the faculty and students were thankful to the prime minister for his support.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 21^st, 2015.