Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal on Wednesday said the government in order to equip the youth with quality education, skills and technology has enhanced the budget of Higher Education Commission (HEC) by 135 percent i-e from 26 billion rupees to 70 billion rupees. Addressing an event in Islamabad, he said the youth are the future which can make the country one of the leading and fastest growing economies of the world in the next ten to fifteen years.

 Ahsan Iqbal said we have established national centers of quantum computing and Nano-technology with the aim to empower the youth with technology. He said we have also established a national center for manufacturing to support our industries and make their products competitive in the world markets. We are promoting linkages between the academia and the industry, he said urging the private sector to make full use of the research capabilities of the universities. The minister planning said that the Higher Education Commission has also been asked from this year to make it compulsory on all university students to study one course on entrepreneurship and exports.

 Speaking on the occasion, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Youth Affairs Shaza Fatima said every possible facility will be provided to foreign investors to enhance the volume of Foreign Direct Investment in the country. She stressed for joint ventures and collaboration with foreign companies to attract FDI in the country.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)