Governor promises new provinces in Punjab
Governor Balighur Rehman shakes hands with one of the position holders during the convocation. Photo Express
Punjab Governor Muhammad Balighur Rehman has said that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) would create the South Punjab and Bahawalpur provinces after getting a two-thirds majority in the legislature.
Talking to the media here after attending the Ghazi University’s first convocation, he said, “We have not made any 100-day promise for the creation of new provinces.”
The governor said consensus in the Punjab Assembly, National Assembly and Senate or a two-thirds majority was required for the creation of new provinces.
He said the Bahawalpur state had extended help to Pakistan and it view of the historic contribution of the region, the PML-N was in favour of the creation of two new provinces -- South Punjab and Bahawalpur.
He said the ruling party would pass a bill for the creation of the two provinces when it would get the required majority in Punjab.
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Governor Balighur Rehman said the government wanted to have at least one university in every district but there were some financial difficulties. However, the budget for higher education has been significantly increased and development grant has also been increased by 68 per cent in the budget approved recently.
He said several universities, including the Ghazi varsity had been established in the past, adding that the ongoing projects of higher education would be completed besides commencing new projects.
Encouraging the conversion of universities to solar energy, the governor said the PML-N had introduced net metering to solve the power supply problems. “Today, the trend of solar green energy is increasing across the country,” he added.
As the chancellor, the governor awarded medals to position holders and felicitated the successful students in a ceremony held at the university.
As many as 3,000 students were declared eligible for the degrees.
According to Ghazi University Vice Chancellor of Dr Muhammad Tufail Ghazi, the university in Dera Ghazi Khan had been established in 2014 under an act passed in 2012.
Addressing the participants of the ceremony, Governor Balighur Rehman said collaboration among universities would enhance the abilities of the faculty and students.
The universities should also be in touch with modern knowledge and the corporate market, he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 28th, 2022.