PR No. 233 FEDERAL EDUCATION MINISTER ATTENDS UK PAKISTAN PARTNERS EVENT Islamabad: April 25, 2017

Minister of State for Federal Education and Professional Training, Engr. Muhammad Baligh ur Rehman was Chief Guest at UK Pakistan Partners Event jointly organized by Higher Education Commission (HEC) and British Council Pakistan in Islamabad here on Tuesday. The event concluded with LoI signing ceremony between HEC and British Council Pakistan for second phase of education collaboration program.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister said that it is a pleasing site to witness Pakistani and UK Universities collaborating in the field of education and research and hence benefit from each other’s capabilities. He emphasized the importance of initiating knowledge exchange programs and research collaborations for purpose of enhancing mutual understanding and academic excellence. “Present Government’s Vision 2025 document also talks about building knowledge based economy”, he said. Minister said that the government attaches great value to transnational academic collaboration and has initiated similar knowledge exchange programs and research collaboration initiatives with USA.

He reiterated present government’s commitment towards 4Es: Education, Energy, Economy and (eradication of) Extremism. “Pakistan is poised to become the 20th biggest economy by 2030;   terrorist incidents have nosedived; and energy deficiency in the country has been considerably reduced and would be completely eliminated by early next year”, he said. “Though challenges exist in education sector yet we have seen improvements at phenomenal rates during the present government wherein infrastructural facilities and enrolments have greatly improved”, Minister said. He said that great focus is also being placed on quality of education and research. “Ministry of Federal Education is undertaking curriculum review to match international standards and steps have also been taken to raise the standard of research in the country”, he added.

The new phase being considered, envisions 16 to 18 education partnership projects between higher education institutions of United Kingdom and Pakistan. The three year projects would be jointly funded by HEC and British Council. Under phase I of the HEC-BC collaborative program 16 such partnership projects had already been completed. 

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