OUR STAFF REPORTER LAHORE Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said more than 50 per cent population comprised women and the aim of progress and prosperity cannot be realised without bringing them into national mainstream. He was addressing the first convocation of Fazaia College of Education for Women Lahore Cantt here on Wednesday. Minister Education Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, MNA Khawaja Saad Rafique, MPAs, President Pakistan Air Force Women Association Begum Farzana Rao Qamar, Air Marshal Wasim-ud-Din, Air Commodore Dr. Ijaz Ahmed Malik, Vice Chancellor Air University, officers of Pak Air Force, girl students, teachers and a large number of parents were present. The CM has announced three buses for the College. While underlining the need for collective effort for national progress and ensuring a glorious future, Shahbaz Sharif said the aim of national progress and prosperity could not be translated into reality without promotion of education and keeping in view that fact, the Punjab government was attaching top priority to the uplift of education sector and had taken revolutionary measures to spread knowledge to every nook and corner of the province. He mentioned establishment of Daanish Schools as a step in this regard. Referring to the steps taken for the development of education sector in the province, the CM said establishment of IT labs in more than 4,000 schools, provision of scholarship to talented boy and girl students of Punjab and other provinces through the Punjab Educational Endowment Fund, arrangements of visits of position-holder students of different examinations to international educational institutions and awarding of prizes to the winners of essay and speech writing competitions and sports events were such steps which were leaving a positive impact on education sector and polishing the talent of students through curricular and extra-curricular activities. He said the Fazaia College was playing an important role in imparting education to women, and all out assistance would be extended to the institution. The CM further said participation of women in the process of national progress and development was essential and they would have to work side-by-side with men in various sectors. He said educating a woman was educating a family, and advised women to join practical life after acquiring education and play their due role in different sectors. Pakistan can regain its lost status in the comity of nations if men and women made joint effort for national development. Pakistan will become a strong and prosperous country provided determined and tireless efforts were made for that purpose, he observed, while congratulating parents of students, who had received BA and BSc degrees. He advised students to adopt truth and honesty in their practical life. Earlier, the CM gave away degrees and medals to the students who had completed their education and achieved prominent position in the examination. Air Marshal Wasim-ud-Din, Vice Chancellor Air University Dr. Ijaz Malik and Principal Naaz Gul Syed also addressed the function, and paid rich tributes to the CM for taking revolutionary steps for the development of education sector.