EXEMPLARY STEPS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF EDUCATION

For the smooth and multi-dimensional progress of a country and society, it is necessary for all individuals to make their utmost contribution to this process, in accordance with their talents and capabilities. It is the primary responsibility of every government to bring its workforce in line with the contemporary requirements and to make the people aware of modern sciences, in order to fully benefit from their hidden talents. Fortunately, for the last four years, the man who has been at the helm of affairs in Punjab is a leader, who is practically acting upon Quaid-e-Azam’s advice ‘Work, work and only work.’

Immediately after coming to power, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif brought an end to the extortionist culture and introduced transparency and merit in every department. He devised a comprehensive plan for the training and education of youngsters on modern lines. Young male and female students are the main focus of his plan. For the first time in the country’s history, ten billion rupees were allocated for Educational Endowment Fund. Those who secured top positions in essay writing competitions, debates and examinations, were given cash prizes worth millions of rupees. Besides arranging their short stay in the Governor’s House of Murree and presenting guard of honour to them, they were sent on visits to the world’s most prestigious universities for their encouragement on every level. In addition to this, a highly commendable scheme worth billions of rupees, for the distribution of laptops among talented students was also initiated. Having realised the utility and significance of this highly appreciable project, the governments of other provinces have also allocated funds for the distribution of laptops among their students.

There is a long list of steps taken by the Punjab government during the past four years for the encouragement of students and development of the youth community as a whole. They include Punjab Educational Endowment Fund, Danish School System, Laptop Distribution Scheme, setting up IT Labs in schools, modern digital library in Murree, student trips to foreign universities, distribution of cash prizes worth millions of rupees among position holders, setting up of Youth Council, Yellow Cab Scheme, distribution of interest-free loans among skilful young persons, promotion of technical education among youngsters by means of Punjab Skill Development and the provision of jobs on merit to 72,000 youngsters in the educational sector. Young generation is the only focus of all such steps. The Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has recently taken another step, which has no parallel in our country’s history. For the progress and encouragement of talented special students, he has started an excellent programme for the distribution of laptops among them. We find around ourselves a large number of such people who have some physical or mental disability, due to which, they are apparently unable to contribute to the development of society like normal people. But modern researches have proved the fact that if one organ of the body becomes useless due to some disability, Nature compensates this loss by extraordinarily enhancing the ability of some other organ of the body. If some attention is paid towards these special persons in the initial phase of their life, they can be made capable of facing the challenges of their future years. History contains the examples of several blind people, whose brilliant performance despite their blindness, made them immortal figures. Even today, many handicapped people are rendering more useful services than normal people in various walks of life. Perhaps, for this very reason, the beautiful term ‘special’ is used for such people.

Special children are that valuable asset of a society, which cannot be ignored under any circumstances. Civilised societies provides excellent opportunities to the special people, so that they may make progress in life. It is an enviable thing that our special children are courageously preparing themselves to meet the challenges of their life. They have never allowed their disability to become an obstacle in the way of attaining their cherished aims. Despite the difficulties and hardships of their life, they are getting education for leading a respectable and productive life. At a ceremony held in the Chief Minister House, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif distributed laptops among special students. A special feature of this programme was that it was attended by Sardar Harjit Singh, the General Manager of the international computer manufacturing company Dell Corporation. Others who attended the function included Senator Zulfikar Ali Khan Khosa, Adviser for Special Education, Begum Zakia Shahnawaz, Chairman Planning and Development, Chairman Punjab Information Technology Board, Secretary Special Education, teachers, parents and students. Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister announced that the Punjab government would provide laptops to 450 special students studying in various educational institutions of the province. ‘Punjab government has distributed laptops among the talented students throughout the province on merit, hoping that fully benefiting from these computers, our youngsters would bring forward workable formulas for the progress and prosperity of the country’ remarked the chief minister. He thanked the Dell Company, which fulfilled its social responsibilities by donating 150 laptop computers for special children. He expressed the hope that making the best use of these computers, special children would march forward on the road to progress. According to him, the whole project of distributing laptops among students is extremely transparent and even he himself does not have the power to give laptop to any student. From his own pocket, he awarded laptops to the students who recited the Holy Quran and Naat on that occasion. Addressing the function, he further said that billions of rupees are being spent on the laptop distribution scheme and realising the worth of this project, other provincial governments have also decided to start similar schemes for their students.

Another praiseworthy step of the Punjab government is the start of Student Green Card Scheme, which wouldprovide the students cheaper transport facilities for going to and returning from their educational institutions. Students having these green cards would be able to travel on every route in the buses of Lahore Transport Company, by paying just ten rupees. Initially, the scheme was launched in the provincial capital and gradually, its scope would be extended to all cities of the province. Student Green Card Scheme is an important step of the Punjab government for the welfare of the students. In the initial phase, 125,000 students of Lahore would be able to benefit from this scheme, which was inaugurated by the Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. Addressing on the occasion, he said, the nation has very high hopes from its ‘future leaders.’ Government has taken effective steps for their education and the start of Student Green Card Scheme is an important step towards providing cheap and honourable transport facilities to the students. In this connection, he lauded the services of the chairman Lahore Transport Company, vice chairman and other members of the team. Besides this, he also thanked the bus operators for ensuring the success of the scheme. Speaking on the occasion, Khawaja Ahmad Hassan, chairman Lahore Transport Company said, ‘Unprecedented development works are being done in Punjab under the dynamic leadership of Shahbaz Sharif. Modern public transport system and student green card scheme also reflect his vision.’

He further announced that Lahore Transport Company has already started free card scheme for special persons and senior citizens. The student card scheme has been started from public colleges and universities. Addressing the function, Special Assistant Syed Zaeem Husain Qadri said, ‘Progress in the world has been made by only those nations which have got far sighted leadership. The PML(N) leadership has proved that it is capable of looking into future.’

Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif inaugurated a website with regard to the student green card scheme and distributed green cards among the students. Paying glowing tributes to the chief minister for launching the student green card scheme, students present on the occasion remarked that the steps taken by him for the progress of educational sector, have no parallel in our country’s history.

On one hand, by equipping the young generation with modern sciences, the chief minister is making earnest endeavours to prepare capable, intelligent, courageous and enlightened leadership for a bright future of our country; and on the other, he is making utmost efforts to ensure that the special persons who are generally regarded as a mere burden on society, should not remain behind others in the race of progress. Like his numerous other admirable steps, the distribution of laptops among special students is another glaring proof of his adherence to merit and transparency. It is a revolutionary programme, because adorned with modern technology and knowledge; our special students would be able to get Pakistan recognised as an enlightened, progressive and knowledge friendly country.

When laptops were being distributed among special children in the Chief Minister House, their delight was worth seeing. By means of their typical signs, gestures and sounds, they expressed their immense joy, when the chief minister announced that 450 special students throughout the province would be given laptops.

In the history of Punjab, Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif is writing a new chapter of continuous struggle, courage and determination. Speaking on the occasion, he applauded the high spirits and courage shown by the special children, who are keen to receive modern education, despite all the difficulties and obstacles of their life. He expressed the hope that after getting higher education, they would play a positive role in the progress and prosperity of the country.