Govt working hard to lay foundations of knowledge economy: Ahsan Iqbal

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reform Ahsan Iqbal has said the government is working hard to lay a strong foundation of knowledge economy. For this purpose, the budget of Higher Education Commission (HEC) has been jacked up to Rs78 billion from Rs48 billion in two years.

Ahsan Iqbal stated this while addressing the Pakistani students at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia USA, a statement issued by the Ministry of Planning Development and Reforms said here on Sunday. The minister said the federal government is fully committed to promoting higher education in the country through its improved accessibility to people in the far-flung areas of the country.

In this regard, university campuses would be set up in all districts of the country.He noted that we have been lagging behind in the world by ignoring science and technology which should be focused greatly to survive in present economic ideological era.

“We have to follow agenda based on hard work, quality and command on technology to move forward in today’s competitive world,” he stated.Ahsan Iqbal also spoke on key projects including Pak US Knowledge Corridor and China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and believed that these projects would take country to new heights in the coming years.

The minister described Pakistan an an emerging success story. However, some elements in politics and media always portray a gloomy picture of the country. We need to infuse positivity in the nation that is the panacea to overcome all problems, he asserted.He called upon Pakistani students studying abroad to contribute in country’s development by returning to the homeland once they complete their studies.