50 billion allocated forproviding clean drinking water to masses:Governor Punjab

FAISALABAD March 22: Punjab Governor Ch. Muhammad Sarwar has said Punjab government has allocated the funds worth Rs 50 billion for providing clean drinking water to the people by installation of water filtration plants throughout the province as 80 percent of population don’t have an access to potable water, resulting in breaking out water-born diseases.

He was addressing a large gathering of students at the University of

Agriculture Faisalabad D Ground. He was flanked by UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad, Commissioner Sardar Muhammad Akram, District Coordination Officer Noor-ul-Amin Mengal,  Members of Parliaments Rana Muhammad Afzal, Najma Afzal, Dr Nisar and Suraya Naseem, Islamia University of Bahawalpur Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Mukhtar, Arid Agri University Rawalpindi Prof Dr Rai Niaz and others He said that 200 water filtration plants would be set up in Faisalabad.

He said that in Punjab, there are five million students who remained out of school. The Punjab government was making all-out efforts to bring them in

the education.    He congratulated the UAF for becoming top university as per ranking of the Pakistan Council for Science and Technology.

He also congratulated UAF for getting 98^th position worldwide in National

Taiwan University ranking and 35^th position in Green Universities globally. He said that I had never seen the talents like UAF students who performed better than professionals.  He launched the UAF Vision 2030.

He said that the literacy rate in the country was only 58 percent that is very low. He said that the country was blessed with the talented youth.  If they are educated, skilled and trained, there is no reason that the country would not progress.

He said that active participation of women in the socio-economics activities was vital for progress to compete with the rest of the world.   No nation can progress without the quality education, he said, adding that the Punjab Government was taking all tangible steps for this noble cause.

The governor urged the universities to enhance their role in presenting the soft image of the country worldwide. He said that at the time, the City was having the two mega festivals including UAF Literature and Art Festival and District Government Lyallpur Canal festival. The festivals would help spread the message of love, brotherhood and peace. He said that canal festival in Faisalabad was better than Lahore Canal festival.

Talking about the agriculture, he said that agriculture is the backbone of our economy, contributing to the 21 percent to the Gross Domestic Products. The food security and water scarcity were among challenges confronting the country. He stressed upon the scientists to expedite their efforts for the food security.

Addressing on the occasion, the UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan, while welcoming the Governor/ Chancellor, praised the steps being taken on the part of the Government for the promotion of education sector. He said that the UAF citation had gone up manifold and had won the world reorganization. He said that Punjab government education friendly policies will prove fruitful in the term of prosperity and poverty alleviation. He said that the UAF external funding projects had exceeded to Rs 2 billion. He said that it is need of the hour to transforming the knowledge into goods and services.  He thanked the university staff for moving the UAF for new height with dedication and hardworking.