Amraiz Khan
Special Assistant to Chief Minister on Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan declared that the Punjab government attached great importance to promotion of higher education and huge funds worth Rs15 billion for the purpose, which is 285 percent more than the previous year.
Dr Firdous said that new universities are being established in every district of the province, adding that six universities have been set up as yet.
She said that approval has been granted for the establishment of universities in eight districts including Attock, Gujranwala, Rajanpur, Pakpattan, Hafizabad, Bhakkar, Layyah and Sialkot.
The SACM said that a proposal for the establishment of 7 new universities including in Bahawalnagar, Toba Tek Singh, Muzaffargarh, DG Khan, Kasur and Sheikhupura will be considered during the next financial year.
She said that Rs16.60 billion has been allocated for the establishment of the University of Applied Engineering & Emerging Technology in Sialkot, Rs2 billion for the University of DG Khan, Rs3 billion for the University of Gujranwala, Rs2 billion for Baba Farid University Pakpattan and Rs2 billion for Attock University.
Dr Firdous said that Rs500 million for Emerson University, Rs1 billion for Hafizabad University, Rs1 billion for Indus University Rajanpur and another amount of Rs17 billion is reserved for Engineering & Technology University in Sialkot to boost the local industry. Similarly, 86 new colleges will be established, she added.
Dr Firdous expressed satisfaction that the Rehmatul-Lil-Alameen Scholarship programme has been started and Rs830 million is allocated to provide a stipend to needy students every year.
While addressing a public gathering at Sialkot concerning the upcoming Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) elections, the SACM said that PTI has the solution to AJK’s problems.
The PTI will clean sweep the AJK elections to introduce a clean and transparent government there.
The party leaders of LA 36, workers and voters of the area attended the ceremony in a large number.
Meanwhile, SACM Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan termed a news item aired by a private TV channel as concocted and beyond facts, adding that details of assets return of Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, submitted to the election commission, have no contradiction.
She said a reply of notice of the election commission has already been submitted by CM Usman Buzdar and the ECP has received the response.
CM Usman Buzdar has deposited his reply in time despite heavy engagements and the budget session in the Punjab assembly, she said.
She insisted that the failure of the Geo News reporter to mention the chief minister’s reply to ECP is journalistic dishonesty and an attempt to mislead facts.
The SACM maintained the assets of the Punjab CM are declared and his record is clean.
Meanwhile, a statement of the bondmaid of Maryam Safdar about assets is based on falsehoods, she added.
This bondmaid has overlooked the crimes and incessant corruption of her escaped leader, she said and added that the disheartened bondmaid is suffering from distress.
It seems that her mind is out of her control and it is better that she should speak according to her height, advised the SACM.
