Mujtaba Shuja distributes laptops among the Ph. D and M. Phil students at Punjab University

Lahore: Provincial Minister for Law, Excise & Taxation and Finance Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman has highly praised the vision of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif for launching of free distribution laptops among the students under Prime Minister’s Youth Programme. He said that Rs. 274 billion will be spent on education sector during the current fiscal year which is 26.25 percent of the total budget of the province. He said that improvement of higher education is the priority of government and Rs.14.5 billion has been provided for developmental work of the higher education. He said that Rs.3.42 billion has been provided for the establishment of new colleges whereas Rs.1.36 billion are being spent on the provision of missing facilities  in colleges.

 He expressed these views at the distribution ceremony of laptops among the Ph. D and M. Phil students at Punjab University New Campus under Prime Minister’s Youth Initiatives Programme. University Vice Chancellor PU Dr. Mujahid Kamran, Prime Minister’s Youth Programme Coordinator Aneeza Fatima, officials of Higher Education Commission and principals of the university colleges and others officials were also present. Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman said that financial grant is being provided for up-gradation of higher education especially to the institutions of women ,whereas, new women universities are also being established in Bahawalpur, Multan, Sialkot and Faisalabad, whereas three new women universities at Rahim Yar Khan, Sahiwal and Okara will be established during current fiscal year, for enhancing ratio of higher education among women.

Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman said that Punjab government distributed solar lamps among the 2 lakh students during last tenure with a cost of Rs. 2.5 billion under Ujala Programme so that load shedding could not disrupt their study. He said that during current fiscal year laptops and solar lamps are being distributed among the students on merit under a transparent system. He said that government has given special attention for the improvement of school education during last 6 years and one lakh 40 thousand school teachers had been recruited purely on merit in the province.

Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman said that 101 new colleges were constructed while missing facilities were provided to 96 colleges during the last five years.  He said that IT labs had been set up in more than 5000 high schools and 515 middle schools during last five years. He said that scholarships of 12 billion rupees are being provided to more than 50 thousand students within the country and abroad from Endowment fund. He said that terrorism and unemployment can be wiped out through promotion of education and provision of jobs to the youth. He said that DFID has granted in aid to the tune of Rs.351 million to construct 15000 additional class rooms, one additional class room for each public sector school having deficient facilities.