Lancaster University’s delegation calls on CM Punjab

Lahore: A high level delegation of Lancaster University, Britain led by Vice Chancellor Prof. Mark Smith called on Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif at Model Town today. The delegation comprised Deputy Vice Chancellor Robert Mckinley, Chief Operating Officer Nicola Owen and Director Partnership Dr. Hassan Ahmed. Provincial Minister for Education Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan, Chairman Punjab Examination Commission Dr. Zafar Iqbal Qureshi, Vice Chairman Punjab Educational Endowment Fund Dr. Amjad Saqib, Vice Chancellor Information Technology University Dr. Umar Saif and Rector of Comsat Institute of Information Technology Dr. SM Junaid Zahidi were present on the occasion.

Talking to the delegation, the Chief Minister said that the problems being faced by Pakistan can be resolved through promotion of education. He said that Punjab government is taking revolutionary measures to raise the standard of education in the province and billions of rupees have been spent during the last five years for the development of education sector. He said that a substantial increase has also been made for education sector in the new fiscal year budget. Shahbaz Sharif said that problems like extremism, terrorism, poverty and unemployment can be resolved by promoting education. He said that the aim of national progress and prosperity cannot be achieved without the promotion of information technology and engineering, therefore, there is a need to move forward in these sectors. He said that the future of Pakistan is linked with vocational education and there is also a need to pay attention to research.

The Chief Minister invited Lancaster University to set up its university campus in knowledge city Lahore. He said that Lancaster University should consider the model of public and private partnership for this purpose. He said that knowledge city is a project of vital importance and he will offer prominent local and foreign universities to set up their campuses in it. Vice Chancellor Lancaster University thanked the Chief Minister for his offer to establish university campus in knowledge city and said that Lancaster University will consider the matter in detail and promote cooperation with Punjab in education sector. The delegation of Lancaster University invited Chief Minister to visit Britain.