Minister for promotion of Punjabi language

LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Higher Education Syed Raza Ali Gillani said nations who value their mother language excel in education sector. He said Punjabi is our mother language and we are proud of it.

He said this while addressing a three-day International Punjabi Conference at Lahore College for Women University (LCWU) here on Thursday. Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) Chairman Siddiq-ul-Farooq, LCWU Vice-Chancellor Dr Uzma Qureshi, Dr Dhawant Kaur of India and Punjabi language experts from Canada and Pakistan were present on the occasion.

Raza said Punjabi was a strong and influential language and accepted all over the world. He said government would consider the proposal of teaching Punjabi at all government colleges of the province. The three-day conference will feature various programmes highlighting the culture of Punjab including folk songs, qawwali and mushaira.

The Minister also attended the second convocation of the Government College for Women, Bilal Ganj and distributed certificates and medals among successful students. Raza stressed educating of women for the betterment of society. He said students who participated in co-curricular activities were generally more shining as they develop creative ability.

Later, the minister presided over the closing session of the two-day conference on Population Growth and Human Development jointly organised by Punjab Higher Education Commission and Population Association of Pakistan at GCU Lahore. Addressing the conference, Raza said to solve a problem we must first indentify its severity. Population growth was a problem that would be resolved through continuous support of society. He said the government would incorporate the recommendations of the conference in its population control policy.

competitions: Debating Society of the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) in collaboration with University Literary Society (QIRTAS) organised competitions of debate and essay writing.

According to a press release, Sameen, Momina Arshad and Shanza Farooq bagged positions in English essay writing while Saira Mukhtar, Maria Rahil and Saad Khalid secured positions in Urdu essay writing. Senior Tutor Prof Dr Kamran Ashraf and Dr Asim Aslam co-chaired the prize distribution ceremony.