Now its special childrens turn

Lahore:Punjab Chief Minister, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, has said that special children are an asset of the nation, which could not be ignored. He observed that all civilized societies provide best opportunities to special persons to enable them to achieve progress. He said that the nature has deprived special children of few capabilities, however, they have been blessed with such other skills and talent, which even a normal person does not possess. Chief Minister said special children are facing all the impediments of life, with courage and determination, and are acquiring education on purely merit basis. He announced that Punjab Government would provide 450 laptops to special children in educational institutions, throughout the province. He said, so far, 125000 laptops have been distributed among brilliant students throughout the province, while a hefty amount of Rs.4 billions has been earmarked for laptops distribution, during the next fiscal years. Chief Minister announced that, in the next phase of laptops distribution programme, brilliants students of vocational institutions and Deeni Madaris would also be included.

Chief Minister was addressing laptop distribution ceremony amongst special children at Chief Minister’s Secretariat, here today. The ceremony was attended by Senator Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa, Advisor on Special Education, Begum Zakiya Shahnawaz, General Manager Dell Corporation Sardar Harjeet Singh, Chairman Punjab Information Technology Board, Chairman Planning & Development, Secretary Special Education, teachers, parents and students. The General Manager of Dell Corporation, announced that his company would provide 72 scholarships to brilliants students of Punjab, under which 18 students would be sent on merit basis to higher education institutions of Turkey and Malaysia.

Addressing the ceremony, the Chief Minister said that the first phase of progamme of providing information technology in all educational institutions in the length and breadth of the country which was launched by government of Pakistan Muslim League-N, is concluding. He said the Punjab government has distributed laptops, on merit basis, among brilliants students of educational institutions, throughout the province and hoped that the youth would benefit from these computers and play an effective role in the progress and prosperity of the nation. He said that he is thankful to the Dell Corporation for providing a gift of 150 laptops for special children, which will go a long way in enabling them to compete with others in life. He informed that Dell Corporation would expeditiously set up E-libraries, at 26 colleges of Punjab, which will be supervised and monitored by the government. The Chief Minister pointed out that process of distribution of laptops is so transparent that even he does not have the power to give laptop to any student, however, he has given laptops, from his own pocket, to some students for Naat Khawani and recitation of Holy Quran in various functions. He said billions of rupees are being invested on laptops distribution, and, realizing its efficacy, the other provinces have launched this programme as well. He said if the other provinces would require cooperation in this regard, Punjab government is prepared to extend wholehearted assistance. He said that special children are a precious asset, and all resources for the betterment of this important segment of the society are available to them.

The Country Manager of Dell Corporation for Pakistan, Rao Hashim Khan, in his address, said that as a result of the visionary leadership of Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, laptops distribution programme has been launched among the brilliant students. He said the Dell Corporation has been a partner in setting up IT Labs in 4286 schools of the province, and the company would continue to work with the Punjab government for promotion of IT. He said Dell Company is distributing 150 free-of-cost laptops among the special children and it would continue to offer vigorous assistance to the Punjab government in this regard. The meeting was also addressed by Chairman Planning and Development Javed Aslam. Earlier laptops were distributed by Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif among the special children.

General Manager Dell Corporation South Asia, Sardar Harjeet Singh met Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif at Chief Minister’s Secretariat, here today. Matters regarding promotion of information technology were discussed in the meeting. Senator Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa, Country Manager Dell Corporation for Pakistan and Afghanistan, Chairman Planning & Development, Chairman Punjab Information Technology Board and Secretary Higher Education were also present.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that the aim of progress and prosperity can only be achieved by equipping the young generation with the latest knowledge. He said that Punjab government has adopted a solid strategy for the promotion of information technology in the province and IT has been introduced in various government departments. He said that corruption-free culture and transparency is the policy of Punjab government in every project including laptop distribution.

Meanwhile General Manager Dell Corporation South Asia Sardar Harjeet Singh while informing about the commercial activities of his company in various countries said that Dell Corporation is collaborating with Punjab government in various IT projects including forensic lab and land record corporatization. He said that Dell Corporation will set up e-Libraries in 26 colleges of Punjab while three thousand five hundred youth will be imparted IT training. He said that locations have been identified for the setting up of service centers for students in each district.