QUOTE(USAM @ Aug 11 2005, 08:26 AM)
Pleasent to read that gov. is also on same page.
President says Pakistan addressing extremism prudently
RAWALPINDI, August 10 (APP): President General Pervez Musharraf Wednesday said Pakistan is committed to rooting out extremism through a prudent approach in accordance with the country's ground realities and sought academicians' support in addressing the sensitive issue.
"We are not dragging our feet, nor we lack in determination to deal with the complex problem which has to be handled with care - it has to be addressed in its long-term perspective and not through use of force," he emphasized in a wide-ranging interaction with eminent educationists, scientists and researchers.
Pakistan, he underlined, is certainly moving in a clearly defined direction to get rid of the malaise of extremism and also confronting terrorism with force and said these are repercussions of 26 year long unrest, militancy and strife in Afghanistan and the region.
The President vowed to continue the country's efforts for a societal change and described promotion of education at all levels as one of the means to achieve this objective.
"The academics should support our endeavours by educating young minds with enlightened teachings of Islam which call for tolerance and peace.
"The fight against extremism requires changing mindsets -- if our teachers lead by example, it would be greatly helpful in affecting a change for the better," he said.
Identifying illiteracy and poverty as the other underlying causes of extremism and terrorism, he said the international
community has to tackle these issues collectively in a comprehensive manner.
"In Pakistan, we are focused on passing on the benefits of economic gains to people at grassroot level to bring more jobs to our people - we are also striving for universalizing education across the country as part of our holistic approach to human resource development".
The President informed the gathering, also including foreign scholars, that the Government is endeavouring to streamline education system of Madrassahs.
"We will encourage introduction of modern subjects in Madrassahs and also award scholarships to their students so that graduating students acquire professional skills and enter the mainstream of national life".
On improving the higher education scenario, the President observed that acquiring advancement in science and technology is the way forward for Pakistan's fast-paced progress.
"No doubt, agriculture is currently the mainstay of our economy - but we are in the process of shifting our focus to
industrial development, which accounts for 61 per cent of the world trade while textiles make up on six per cent of it," he said.
The President said the Government wants the centres of excellence to produce professionals who can propel Pakistan to rapid industrial development and has enacted a 3000 per cent increase in allocations for higher education.
"The academics have to act as agents of change and produce skilled manpower commensurate with demands of the market - our objective is to turn industrial base into our real strength," he added.
In this context, the robust industrial growth achieved in the last two fiscal years has fortified Pakistan's resolve to
move ahead in the direction, he said.
"We have come a long way - we have steered the rudderless ship out of high seas and provided a rudder to the ship - the economic turnaround brought about in the last six years bespeaks for both our resolve and ability to develop, befitting our vast potential," he said, recounting a range of macro-economic achievements.
The President also informed the gathering that the Government is in the process of setting up an autonomous organization for promoting vocational skills of the youth in all the provinces.
He said he would personally oversee provision of basic health, education, electricity and clean drinking water to people by 2007 and also pursue progress in projects aimed at arresting poverty, creating job opportunities and price-control.
He commended the Higher Education Commission for encouraging Pakistani expatriates to return to their homeland and described it as reversal of the brain drain, which happened due to negligence of the past governments.
"It is a heartening sign that the outstanding Pakistanis are returning to serve the nation in response to our policies and economic achievements," he said.
He said Pakistan must hit the target of producing 1500 PhDs per annum in the fields of science and technology.
Entertaining questions from the scholars, the President agreed with a participant that Pakistan is a victim of misperceptions and needs to improve its image.
Chairman Higher Education Commission Dr. Atta ur Rehman thanked the President for his abiding commitment to and financial support for the cause of higher education.
The HEC has financed 500 Pakistani students to pursue their studies at the reputed European and American institutions of higher learning as part of the Government's policy to move towards knowledge-based economy, he revealed.
Dr. Atta ur Rehman disclosed that efforts are afoot to establish world class engineering universities in collabroation
with Germany, France, Austria and Sweden.
Minister for Education Lt Gen ® Javed Ashraf Qazi, Minister for Health Muhammad Nasir Khan and senior officials were also present.
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In the long run if all goes the way it is going...Inshallah we will be like UAE..small but strong as hell,....