LAHORE - Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar has expressed optimism that Pakistan will get GSP plus status in the meeting of European Union being held on December 11.
Adressing the 14th Convocation of the University of Central Punjab held on Tuesday, the governor said that after getting the GSP plus status, Pakistani exports will reach two billion dollars in two to three years while millions of jobs will be created.  Ch Sarwar also awarded degrees to 811 graduates. Chairman Board of Governors, UCP Mian Amir Mahmood was also present on the occasion.
The governor said that he tried to build a positive image of Pakistan when he was campaigning for the GSP plus status for Pakistan. He lamented that world was not recognizing the contributions and sacrifices of Pakistan despite the fact that it played the role of a front line state in the war on terror in which 50,000 people lost their lives.
He urged the young graduates to play their role for building a progressive image of Pakistan and also advised them to be punctual and never give up hope. He stressed that public and private sector should work together for the uplift of the education sector of the country. 
Speaking on the occasion Pro-Rector university Of Central Punjab Professor Dr Zafarullah said that education was indispensable for an honourable existence in today’s world. “Education not only plays an important role in the socio-economic growth of a country, it contributes significantly to the development of democracy and good governance as well”, he said.
He was of the view that nothing gives greater dividends to a nation than an investment in education. Zafarullah further stated that Pakistan which was spending hardly 2 percent on education had over 25 million children out of schools, the second highest in the world. 
According to him, there is a linear relationship between accessibility to higher education and GDP per capita. He informed the students that Pakistan’s accessibility to higher education in the age group of 17-23 year was only 8 percent compared to South Korea’s 98 percent.
South Korea has one University for every 142,000 of its population whereas Pakistan had one University for every 2.1 million of its population, he added.