FAISALABAD
Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali on Saturday said that the incumbent government was committed to alleviating poverty and special attention was being paid to underprivileged districts.
Abid Sher Ali was addressing a cultural programme arranged by the University of Agriculture Faisalabad at Iqbal Auditorium here. He was flanked by District Coordination Officer Noorul Amin Mengal, UAF Vice Chancellor Dr Iqrar Ahmad, IBA Sukker Director Dr Nisar Ahmad, MPA Mian Tahir Jameel and all deans and directors of the varsity.
Abid Sher Ali pointed out that secret of development lay in the quality education. "If we equip the youth, especially those leaving in under developed and backward area with the wealth of knowledge, the dream of rapid growth will come true." He expressed his pleasure over seeing the students from all the four corners of the country and termed the youth an engine for the bright future. The state minister pointed out that the government was making all out efforts for the said cause and taking revolutionary steps to transformed Pakistan a developed and prosperous country. "The distribution of laptops, double quota for the Baluchistan students with fees waivers and others such steps are the hallmark steps that will open up new chapter of progress in the county," he claimed.
Speaking on the occasion, the DCO said that the country was blessed with talented youth and stressed the need for providing equal opportunities of progress. He said with the culture of the love, passion, hardworking and brotherhood, the challenges facing the country can be weeded out easily. The DCO said that the student delegations of the other province would be welcomed by the city district govt and they would be provided all out facilities during their stay here. He said that the city is the being glorified on the pattern of the Lahore and a number of steps were being taken to highlight the heritage of Lyallpur and beautification of the city.
In his speech, the UAF Vice Chancellor said that the university offer admission on the district quota. Therefore, the campus represents all folk colours of the country. He said that agriculture was the backbone of our economy. All possible steps are benign taken on the part of varsity to strengthen the agriculture sector in form of manpower, researches and outreach programme, he added.
anti-polio drive from 20th: The district government will start three days anti-polio campaign from January 20 across the district during which 1.212 million children below age of 5 years will be administered polio vaccine.
It was decided during a meeting of District Polio Eradication Committee held here with DCO Noorul Amin Mengal in the chair here the other day.
The meeting was attended by senior officials of the Health Department and others departments concerned.
On the occasion, the Health Department officials informed that 2,762 health department teams would remain active for the vaccination of children during the campaign, out of them 2,243 teams would visit door-to-door for the purpose.
In this connection, 289 Union Council Monitoring Officers and 458 area In-charges have been deputed to supervise the campaign.
It was decided that vaccinators would be provided foolproof security. They would be guarded by police, while the wage of the vaccinators has also been increased.
He directed that after the campaign two days January 23 and 24 should be observed as sweeping days for giving vaccine to the leftover children.
On the occasion, the DCO directed the Health Department officials to implement micro plan of the campaign in letter and spirit and ensure that every child below 5-year of age was administered polio vaccine.
He directed that static teams should be remained visible at railways stations, bus stands, markets and other vital points for vaccination of children.
The DCO stressed on the need of launching wide awareness campaign of anti-polio for the information of parents.
He said that radio programmes should also be arranged for the awareness besides using the cable network and displaying of steamers/banners on conspicuous places.