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HEC to spend Rs 3bn on education in Balochistan: Atta
ISLAMABAD, Feb 12(Dawn): The Higher Education Commission (HEC) would spend Rs 3 billion on the
provision of quality education in Balochistan in light of President Pervez
Musharraf's vision for the province's fast-track development.
Chairman
HEC Dr Atta-ur-Rehman told reporters that the measures taken by the commission
were in line with the president's strategy and has started yielding results in
Balochistan, which suffered neglect in the past.
"It is the top priority
of the president to develop the province on modern lines through improved
primary and secondary education besides promoting higher education in the
province," he added.
Chairman HEC said under the president's initiative
the universities in Balochistan would be upgraded with improved infrastructure,
modern teaching equipment, up-to-date curriculum and better
faculties.
"These include improvement of the Sardar Bahadar Khan Women
University, Lasbella Agriculture University, Khuzdar University and up gradation
of facilities at Balochistan University," he added.
Dr Atta said Rs 970
million has been earmarked for Balochistan University to provide modern
educational facilities at this premier institution of the province.
He
said about 1,200 students have been granted scholarships to pursue post-graduate
studies at quality foreign institutions.
Many of them, he said, would
return home to serve in Balochistan universities as members of faculty. This is
part of the Rs 15 billion training programme for the students in top educational
institutions abroad, he added.
He said the president, who visited
Balochistan in December was briefed about the problems being faced by the
students and the faculty in Balochistan, including shortage of buses in
Balochistan University.
He said the president took prompt notice of acute
shortage of transport facilities in the university, following burning of its
fleet of buses by miscreants.
He said the president directed the HEC to
provide six buses to the university, adding that Rs 22 million have been
provided for immediate release.
"President's prompt decision reflects his
keen desire to develop Balochistan, especially its educational infrastructure,"
Dr Atta said.
He said never in the history of the country, such
extensive measures were taken to promote education and provide modern facilities
at the top academic institutions of Balochistan.
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