Priority spending: Punjab to increase health and education budget, says Mujtaba

VC said most countries spent around 5 per cent of their GDP on education.


Our Correspondent May 26, 2014
Rehman said education and health were top priorities of the government. PHOTO: EXPRESS

LAHORE:


Finance Minister Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman said the Punjab government would increase spending on education and health in the next fiscal year.


He was addressing the first convocation of the Punjab University College of Pharmacy held at Pearl Continental Hotel on Monday. Vice Chancellor Mujahid Kamran presided over the ceremony.

Rehman said education and health were top priorities of the government. Last year, the provincial government had spent 26 per cent of its budget on education. He said the Punjab government had taken steps for the welfare of pharmacists, and made the appointment of pharmacists in hospitals compulsory. He said pharmacists could play an important role in the healthcare system.

Kamran said most countries spent around 5 per cent of their GDP on education. He said Pakistan was spending less than 2 per cent. He said better education facilities were necessary for Pakistan to develop. He advised students to work hard, excel in their fields of study and collaborate with other professionals.



Dean Mubashar Ahmed said the college was the oldest ‘seat of learning’ for pharmacy. He said the students now had the opportunity to practice what they had learnt. He demanded that the finance minister allocate money in the next budget for paid internships for the college’s students. As many as 178  students received degrees. Saba Zia received a gold medal for being the top student. Hafiz Muhammad Irfan Nazar received a gold medal for outstanding performance in industrial pharmacy.

Controller of Examinations Liaqat Ali, Convocation Convener Dr Syed Nawazish-i-Husain, Chief Medical Officer Dr Nauman Ahmed were also present on the occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 27th, 2014.

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