Universities can contribute to national development by promoting research culture:Rana Mashhood

Lahore: Universities cannot contribute to national development without promoting research culture. The age of traditional education and professions is over now and the world is rapidly heading towards knowledge economy leaving the age of information technology behind.

Pakistani government is initiating state-of-the-art projects like Lahore Knowledge Park in addition to promoting education, research and information technology in order to join the rank of developed countries. Punjab government is assisting to help universities promote knowledge culture in their campuses.

These views were expressed by Provincial Minister for Education, Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan today at University of Engineering and Technology while addressing International Conference on Open Source Systems and Technologies  organized by Chemical Engineering Department. The seminar was also addressed by Director General PCSIR Dr. Sakhawat Ali, Vice Chancellor UET Prof. Fazal Ahmed Khalid and Dr. Waqar Mahmood.

Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan, the chief guest said in his address that today is the age of knowledge based economy and there is a tough competition between nations on the front of economy and innovation. He said that everyday new ideas are emerging and sectors of engineering and technology are facing great challenges during modern age to discover and innovate new technologies through consistent study and research. He said that the collaboration of academia, technology and corporate sectors is creating miracles in economic field. He stressed upon the need to establish such a research and economic environment in the country which could coop with the need of the hours.

Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan further said that it is a matter of pleasure for him that China has selected 66 engineers from UET to work on Sahiwal Coal  Power Project. These engineers would proceed to China for further training after the completion of on-going project. He said that challenges are always source of opportunities and Pakistani youth are lucky to have millions of chances in the form of Pak China Economic Corridor and other mega projects. It is duty of our government to provide proper platform to youth so that they could build up their carriers and bright future and this obligation is being performed by PML-N government by virtue of day and night hard work by Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif, he concluded.