Karachi to become hub of higher education: Siddiqui

KARACHI:

Federal Minister for Education, Science, and Technology and Chairman of Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui announced plans to establish new university campuses across the metropolis, aimed at revitalising the city's educational landscape.

While speaking at the inauguration of the Karachi campus of the National Textile University in the Korangi Industrial Area, Siddiqui stressed the importance of providing quality higher education to Karachi's youth.

Several university campuses have already been opened in Karachi, with more slated to be launched in the coming months, he added. "Our goal is to reconnect Karachi's younger generation with their city," he said. However, he acknowledged the challenges of governance, describing MQM-P's past experiences in and out of government as less than favourable.

He stressed the need for collaboration between the educational and industrial sectors, urging Karachi's business community to support these new campuses. "Just as Karachi's business community drives Pakistan's economy, their involvement is vital for shaping the future of our educational institutions. The future of Karachi and Pakistan is intertwined," he said.

Highlighting the disparity in development across Pakistan, Siddiqui contrasted Islamabad's progress with Karachi's deteriorating infrastructure. "While Karachi contributes significantly to the nation's economy through taxes, its current state is disheartening. We aspire for Karachi -and all of Pakistan - to develop like Islamabad," he added.

Siddiqui criticised the local government system, calling it outdated and ineffective. He also dismissed recent local government elections as a "conspiracy" orchestrated by the PPP, with the alleged complicity of Jamaat-e-Islami. "We boycotted this so-called election because it was not transparent," he asserted.

Reiterating MQM-P's stance, Siddiqui stated that the party has never sought ministries for personal gain. "We are the only political party that willingly steps away from ministries, even while being part of the government," he said.