Education is the key to socio-economic development of a country. Education dispels the darkness of ignorance. In the current competitive world, no one can survive and advance without education. Therefore, the provision of basic education to the masses is the first and foremost duty of every state and government. Keeping this in mind, the Punjab government has announced an unprecedented increase in its allocation for education in the recently announced budget and is making strenuous efforts for the provision of education to every doorstep. The allocation of Rs313 billion for education besides launching of Chief Minister’s Merit Scholarship Scheme is certainly a welcome step as it will help bring revolution in this deprived sector. Within the education sector, school education is among the top priorities of the government with the objective to enrol more out-of-school children and provide them with necessary facilities. If Shehbaz Sharif’s dream of development of education sector in the province materialises into reality, then the day is not so far when Pakistan will also be among the countries with the highest literacy rate.
SYED ALI QASIM,
Lahore, June 16.