By Uzma Zafar
ISLAMABAD: President Dr. Arif Alvi on Friday urged the need for promoting higher education to put the country on fast track of socio-economic development.
He underscored the need for enhancing the volume of hybrid education which was cost-effective and would help increase the number of highly educated and skilled professionals in the country.
The President made these remarks during a briefing on Foundation University Islamabad (FUI) here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.
President FUI, Waqar Ahmad Malik, Rector FUI, Major General (r) Nasir Dilawar Shah and Director FUI, Major General (r) Professor Dr Jawad Khaliq Ansari attended the meeting.
President FUI briefed the meeting about the remarkable job done by the university in promoting higher education, including in the fields of health sciences, engineering and technology. He informed the meeting that FUI was contributing towards the development of human resource through excellence in education, research and innovation.
It was apprised that during 2015-2020, 8,960 students had graduated from the university in various degree programmes and FUI was focusing on increasing the number of PhD graduates. It was highlighted that the university was also providing merit scholarships, need-based financial assistance and fee-waivers to deserving students through the university’s endowment fund.
The President asked the management of the university to implement High Education Commission’s (HEC) policies on drug abuse in higher education institutions and the welfare of students with disabilities which waived off all institutional charges, including tuition fees, hostel fees, and utilities fee. He urged the university to revise its strategy and vision with special focus on increasing its outreach, promoting hybrid and virtual education and producing quality graduates.
The President emphasized that the world was undergoing changes at a rapid pace and Pakistan needed to adopt emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Computing and Data Analysis in order to meet the requirements of the 4th Industrial Revolution.
He appreciated the performance and achievements of FUI towards the promotion of higher education in the country, particularly in the fields of health sciences and engineering. Days earlier, the President had stated that the government was conducting intensive trade diplomacy and was trying to obtain access to new and better markets for local traders and industry through Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and Preferential Trade Agreements (PTAs) to encourage and strengthen the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
The President made these remarks while talking to a delegation of the Jhang Chamber of Small Traders & Small Industry (JCST&SI), which led by President JCST&SI Liaqat Ali Malik called on him here at Aiwan-e-Sadr.
Senior Vice President JCST&SI, Muhammad Adnan Sarwar, Vice President, Abdul Quyoum, and executive members of the JCST&SI attended the meeting. Liaqat Ali Malik briefed the President about the role of JCST&SI in creating job opportunities and appreciated the government for approving an industrial estate for the businessmen of Jhang.
