Information Technology is must to reap maximum dividends from CPEC : President Mamnoon Hussain

Lahore : President of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain said that skill development in Information Technology is must to reap maximum dividends from the game changer project China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

He stated this while speaking as Chief Guest at 8^th Convocation of Virtual University Pakistan (VNP) in Lahore on Tuesday.

The President also stated that expertise of new generation in IT sector would be helpful for the development of country. He pointed out that in the past education and industry were nationalized which created negative impact on the human development sectors. Realizing the need of IT and skill development education, universities like Virtual University have been effectively serving the students, he said.

The President lauded the services rendered by the university in the country where a large number of students cannot afford higher education.

However, President said that the country has been facing new challenges in education sector and more resources were required to meet ever growing needs and challenges. He emphasized that Virtual university has been fulfilling the needs of education successfully in this respect.

The President appreciated that the institution has joined hands with UN for promoting education in the country and hoped that this university would also sign Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) with other international universities so that students could be equipped with modern skills and knowledge.

He said IT has changed the whole world and this field would become more important when projects under CPEC would materialize. However, he stressed the need for more IT graduates in coming days and urged the educational institutions to pay attention towards the needs of preparing IT experts.

He criticized that in the past education sector was ignored due to which literacy goals remained unachieved and human resource development was affected. President Mamnoon Hussain said that education is the only tool which creates sense of responsibility and encourages youth to meet the challenges faced by the society.

President Mamnoon Hussain who is also Chancellor of the University gave away gold medals and shields to students who secured prominent positions in various fields.

Earlier, Rector of Virtual varsity Naveed A.Malik highlighted the achievements of his institution and said that 6245 students including 2166 from Lahore campus were being awarded degrees in different disciplines.