LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister, Shahbaz Sharif has said that the aim of progress and prosperity of the country can only be achieved through elimination of illiteracy and ignorance and equipping the youth with modern education. He was addressing a seminar on Danish School System at Chief Ministers Secretariat here Wednesday. Provincial Minister for Local Government Sardar Dost Muhammad Khosa, former finance minister Sartaj Aziz, Chairman Taskforce Raja Muhammad Anwar, Members National and Provincial Assemblies, educationists, vice chancellors and principals of various educational institutions and senior officers concerned were also present on the occasion. The meeting which lasted more than four hours discussed various aspects of Danish School system and development of education sector. The CM said government was attaching top priority to the uplift of education sector and has taken revolutionary measures for in this respect. He said Danish School project will ensure provision of modern academic facilities to the students of far-flung and backward areas which will not only polish their talent but also raise their dignity and respect. The chief minister said only those nations progress and prosper which attach top priority to education and equip their young generation with science, technology and other modern knowledge. He said in view of the importance of education, Punjab government is making strenuous efforts for the promotion of quality education and the revolutionary measures taken by it for the uplift of this sector have started yielding positive results. He said under Danish School project such academic facilities would become available to the students of backward areas which they would not have imagined and would even be better than those available at leading educational institutions as Aitchison. He said students will be educated in two shifts in Danish Schools and they will also have free boarding and lodging facilities. He said best teachers will be selected for these schools purely on merit. He said the project of Danish Schools has been started from Bahawalpur division of Southern Punjab and early and quality completion of the project is being ensured. He said education is an effective weapon against extremism and terrorism as it broadens ones vision. He said these schools will help in spreading knowledge in backward areas and eliminate extremism. He said it is an established fact that no society can progress without development of backward areas and promotion of quality education. He said social disparity will leave a negative impact on the society if equal opportunities of education were not provided to all segments. Therefore, he said, the project of Danish Schools has been initiated from backward areas. Appreciating the proposals put forward at the seminar on Danish Schools and uplift of education sector, the chief minister ordered formation of a committee to submit recommendations regarding management of Danish Schools, recruitment of teachers, syllabus as well as curricular and co-curricular activities. The meeting also considered in detail devolution plan of education under the new local government system. Earlier, Managing Director Danish School System Yousaf Kamal gave a detailed briefing regarding Danish School project.