Higher education ‘key to sustainable progress’

President Alvi stresses enhanced focus on health and education

PESHAWAR:

President Dr. Arif Alvi has highlighted the importance of promoting higher education for sustainable progress and development in Pakistan. During a meeting with Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Haji Ghulam Ali, Caretaker Chief Minister Muhammad Azam Khan, and members of the provincial cabinet, President Alvi stressed the need for universities to utilize technology to increase the number of graduates in the country.

The meeting addressed issues related to the higher education sector and universities in the province, with an emphasis on leveraging online education and expanding technical and vocational programs to support economic growth and socioeconomic development.

President Alvi also suggested hiring grant specialists to address financial challenges and research grants in universities.

President Dr. Arif Alvi urged enhanced focus on education and health sectors to ensure access to these fundamental facilities for the underprivileged segments of society.

He emphasized on the universities to increase the volume of online education and start different shifts for producing a large number of quality technical and vocational educated manpower, which was imperative for sustainable economic growth and socioeconomic development.

Caretaker Chief Minister Muhammad Azam on this occasion underlined the need for early appointment of the vice chancellors in universities across the province.

On this occasion, the meeting was also briefed on the existing financial and administrative affairs of the universities by the relevant officials.

Speaking at the International Conference on Health Research 2023 at Khyber Girls Medical College, President Alvi expressed concern over the limited access to higher education and quality healthcare for a significant portion of the population.

He emphasized the importance of timely decisions by policymakers and the collective responsibility of stakeholders, philanthropists, volunteers, and religious scholars in creating awareness and educating children.

President Alvi acknowledged the challenges faced by the national economy but expressed hope for improvement over time.

He called on teachers, doctors, students, religious scholars, and every citizen to play their role in nation-building.

He pointed out that 27 million children out of the 250 million total population of the country were out of schools while a large number of people had no access to quality health services in their respective areas.

He said the government could not alone set up schools for 27 million out-of-school children or provide health facilities to all the population and the civil society should also come forward to share the responsibility in that regard.

He said currently the country needed doctors and nurses. Against the demand of 900,000, some 200,000 trained nurses were working in the field, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 23^rd, 2023.