Promoting education: Punjab enhances funds to cut unemployment

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The endowment fund of the government is helping about 60,000 students across universities in the country. PHOTO: FILE

FAISALABAD: Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah, while underlining the importance of education, has said the size of endowment fund, created by the PML-N, has been increased to provide assistance to the needy and talented students and reduce the ranks of poor and unemployed.

“The government is fully aware of the importance of education in rooting out illiteracy, poverty and unemployment from the society and shift in the approach of NGOs to education is commendable,” he said.

He was speaking at a seminar organised by the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) and Saylani Welfare International Trust on “Empowering youth as IT entrepreneurs for progressive Pakistan” at the FCCI on Monday.

Sanaullah said the PML-N promoted education during its first tenure by creating an endowment fund for the talented students belonging to the poor strata of society. The fund, which was launched with Rs5 million, has recorded a significant jump and now stands at Rs12 billion, which is helping about 60,000 students get best education in renowned universities of the country.

Earlier, FCCI President Suhail bin Rashid said information technology was a key industry that could bring revolution in the country and the government should recognise and give due status to this field.

He underscored the need for setting up an IT park, a campus of IT University and an office of the Punjab IT Board in Faisalabad. The city required a place for 88 local software companies to sit and work round the clock and the IT park would provide that space, he said.

Published in GNN & Tribune, May 6th, 2014.