ATTOCK - Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has said that current challenges being faced by Pakistan demand greater focus on indigenous efforts and this requires skilled manpower which entails investment in education. He said this is the reason that developed nations invest heavy funds in education sector and their leadership focuses on human resource for reshaping the destiny of their countries.
He was addressing a gathering after performing ground-breaking ceremony of the Aviation city, Air University Kamra Campus and Air Housing Scheme at the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) Kamra on Tuesday.
Minister for Defence Khurrum Dastigar Khan, Minister for Interior Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Defence Production Rana Tanveer Hussain, Chairman Senate Standing Committee for Defence Production Lt Gen (Retd) Abdul Qayyum, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman, Chairman Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) Air Marshal Ahmar Shahzad and Heavy Industries Taxila Chief Lt Gen. Khalid Mehmood were also present on the occasion.
The premier said that Pakistan’s vision 2025 has prioritised the “knowledge-based economy” as one of the seven pillars and the present government puts highest premium on the Human Resource Development for provision of competent leadership, skilled manpower and think tanks for all walks of life. To this end, he said, the government has increased spending on education and we anticipate substantial improvement in our human resource.
He added: “While we provide funding, it is incumbent upon faculty of universities to impart our students with quality education for industrial and technological development and to meet the future challenges. I am glad that Air University has made its mark in higher education sector. The strategic initiative of establishing an Aerospace and Aviation Campus at Kamra is laudable for its national, regional and broader international significance. Indeed, Pakistan has considerable and valuable aviation assets to accomplish the need of both civil and defence sectors.”
Addressing on the occasion, Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman said: “Realisation of Air University Aerospace and Aviation Campus is in fact part of the strategic vision of Pakistan Air Force to develop industry-academia linkage in the form of Aviation City. It is heartening to share that this strategic initiative also holds significant potential to attract a large number of international scholars and trainees who, besides providing intellectual exchange, would enhance Pakistan’s image with obvious economic and diplomatic gains. The campus would also play a significant role in addressing the emergent new geopolitical realities in the region. I am confident that with the government’s patronage, the PAF will be able to achieve a wide range of strategic gains linked to aviation technology. Surely, this is a path to self-reliance that we have pledged to follow and I am confident that Aviation City, Kamra would play a pivotal role in providing desired impetus to our cutting-edge indigenisation programmes together with strengthening the local industry and harnessing the demands of foreign aviation industry by promoting joint research and production ventures.” He further said: “Our focused efforts in R&D and development of aviation industry in the recent past have yielded such positive results that we stand very proud today. Our engineering and operational staff has indigenised capabilities, which are truly High Tech. I believe that we have stepped into a path which will ensure indigenisation of civil and military aircraft, weapons and avionics. This is the need of the hour and we are determined to do it. Indeed, this is our dream to let Pakistan Aviation Industry grow and thus support the country’s economy.”
On this occasion Air vice Marshal (Retd) Faaiz Amir, Vice Chancellor Air University briefed the audience about the salient features of this campus. Air Marshal Ahmer Shehzad, Chairman Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, Kamra in his welcome address highlighted salient features of the newly-established Aviation City, which is aimed to become an aviation hub in the region.
