Islamabad:
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday assured that the federal government took all possible steps to the economic development of the merged districts and welfare of its people.
He spoke with a delegation of tribe elders in the merged districts of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa led by Jamiat Urvila-e-Islam (Jui-F) President Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who visited the Prime Minister’s house.
Jirga discussed detailed improvement in public order in the merged districts and construction and development of these areas.
While welcoming the delegation, the prime minister announced the restoration of quota for the merged districts of medical colleges and engineering universities.
The elderly stammered the decision and expressed happiness over the restoration of quota.
The Prime Minister said, “I am very happy to host the stiffened elders in the Prime Minister House today.”
During conversation with the delegation, he said, “You belong to the areas of Pakistan that are the guardians of the glorious historical heritage and traditions.”
“Tribes have always sacrificed victims of Pakistan’s security and peace,” he said, adding, “Establishing law and order in the merged districts is the highest priority of the government.”
He said Pakistan’s security forces, police and law enforcement authorities embraced martyrdom while fought bravely against terrorists.
He called for leaders of all thinking schools to play their role together to make Pakistan a cradle of peace.
“Giving equal and best opportunities for education, health, skills and employment for the people of the merged tribal districts, especially youth, is our priority,” he emphasized.
He said “the federal government has allocated a huge amount in this year’s development budget to improve FATA University and police infrastructure in the merged districts.”
He instructed to expand the scope of the committee established under the presidency of the federal minister of Kashmir affairs, Gilgit-Baltistan and Frontier Region’s Engineer Amir Muqam on the questions in the merged districts.
“Stem Elder in merged districts is also represented in this committee,” he noted.
The delegation expressed gratitude for expanding the scope of the committee, giving the tribe’s oldest representation, and for restoring quota for merged districts in medical colleges and engineering universities.
The delegation paid tribute to the brave strategy for the Pakistani army during the recent conflict in the Pakistan India and to give an appropriate answer to the Indian aggression.
The delegation thanked the Prime Minister for the advisory session of peace and order, development and prosperity in the merged districts.
The Prime Minister said that more such advisory sessions will be held with the stiffened elders regarding the improvement of the merged tribal districts.
Federal Ministers, including Minister of Planning Ahsan Iqbal, Minister of Law and Justice Azam Nazir Tarar, Minister of Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Chem, Minister of Information and TV Affairs, Gilgit-Baltist and Frontier Calculator of Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and Fontier-Region Region, Amir Muqam, Kashmir, Kashmir, Kashmir, Kashmir, Kashmir, Kashmir, Kashmir, Kashmir, Kashmir, Kashmir, Kashmir, Kashmir, Kashmir, Faisal Karim Kundi, advisers of Prime Minister Pervez Khattak, Dr. Tauqir Shah, Prime Minister of Economics and Railways Bilal Azhar Kayani and relevant senior government officials attended the meeting.
The World Bank
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met on Thursday with the regional vice president of the World Bank for the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan (Menaap) Ousmane Dione, where they expressed a common commitment to further strengthen cooperation in the coming years to achieve long -term development goals and build a prosperous future for the people of Pakistan.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister, in particular, thanked the President of the World Bank Ajay Banga and former National Director of Pakistan Najy Benhassine for their central role in promoting the new national partnership frame (CPF) for Pakistan.
He appreciated CPF’s strategic role in supporting Pakistan’s developmental priorities, especially in energy, human capital, climate change and government reforms.
He also acknowledged World Bank’s principle support for Pakistan’s legitimate position in the light of India’s unilateral and illegal acts that undermine important international agreements such as the Indus Waters Treaty.
The Prime Minister confirmed Pakistan’s obligation to maintain international law, achieve prosperity and maintain regional peace and repeat the country’s decision to solve all questions through dialogue.
The Prime Minister thanked the World Bank for his timely and generous help during the devastating floods of 2022, which helped Pakistan initiate immediate relief efforts and begin reconstruction and rehabilitation activities.
Ousmane Dione expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for the warm hospitality that was expanded during his visit to Pakistan.
He confirmed the World Bank’s obligation to elaborate and expand his long -standing partnership with Pakistan and improve cooperation in key sectors in the economy.
Mr. Dione appreciated Pakistan’s ongoing macroeconomic recovery and praised the Prime Minister’s government for governing the country towards Financial Stability and Sustainable Growth.
In particular, he praised the current administration’s reform agenda and noted that PM Shehbaz Sharif’s strong leadership in promoting institutional reforms, restoring the investor’s confidence and promoting inclusive economic development.
Arizona State University
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday confirmed the government’s obligation to revolutionize Pakistan’s education sector through the integration of advanced technology and global partnerships with the support of Arizona State University.
During a high-level meeting with a delegation from Arizona State University (ASU) led by Doug Becker, founder and chairman of Cintana education, held at the Prime Minister’s office, PM Shehbaz emphasized that adaptation of Pakistan’s education system with international standards was a top governmental reflection.
The Prime Minister emphasized the need to modernize education and equip the country’s youth with professional and technical skills that are essential to compete in global markets.
“All government education policies are centered on creating employment opportunities for young people based on their professional capacity,” the prime minister said.
He praised the collaboration with Arizona State University as a transformative step, especially the establishment of the National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Pakistan. “This partnership is a significant milestone. Nit will act as an institution of world -class that is training Pakistani youth to compete globally,” he said.
The Prime Minister noted that the government has undertaken important reforms in the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) in the past year, making it a more effective and effective institution.
He instructed that NAVTTC should now work closely with ASU to bring innovation to the vocational education sector.
Discussions during the meeting focused on the operationalization of NIT to commence this year. Doug Becker assured full support from ASU to provide resources and facilities to promote innovation in Pakistan’s education system.
At the end of the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif revealed a memorial that marked the operational launch of the National Institute of Technology.
The meeting also attended the Federal Minister of Economic Affairs Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister of Education Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Federal Minister of the Shaza Fatima Khawaja and senior officials from relevant institutions.
