‘Laptop scheme reduces digital gap among students’
Islamabad:June 23:Minister of State for Federal Education and Professional Training Engineer Muhammad Balighur Rehman on Wednesday said the Prime Minister’s Laptop Scheme had narrowed down the digital gap among students and had immensely helped in their academic research.
“This scheme has faced some criticism on provincial and federal level but we are committed to enable our brilliant students to use technology for enhancing their educational expertise and use their knowledge for development of their communities,” he told the laptop distribution ceremony as the chief guest at the Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences.
PIEAS Rector Dr. Muhammad Aslam and HEC executive director was also in attendance.
“The PIEAS is one of the top-most engineering universities of Pakistan. I feel proud of the brilliant scholars, scientists and engineers of PIEAS who have contributed immensely to the scientific research in Pakistan and made it possible to train experts in various fields of engineering crucial to the survival of Pakistan as an emerging Muslim nation in Science and technology. It is due to dedicated efforts of institutions like PIEAS which have placed Pakistan at the top in engineering and science among the Islamic countries,” he said.
The minister said in order to continue the journey towards scientific and technological proficiency, the government had undertaken the Prime Minister’s Laptop Scheme for young and bright students studying in public sector higher education institutions.
“This programme encourages bright students to pursue further research and academic work in their respective fields in the public sector universities,” he said.
The minister said there had been no political interference in the distribution of the laptops and there had been no violation of merit in their distribution.
He said since the inception of the HEC, its funding had been increased but in last 3 years its funding has been increased to Rs82 Billion from Rs40 billion.
Praising the other schemes like fee reimbursement scheme of the prime minister, the minister said the government was fully committed to the education.
Further he added that things are improving; security situation is getting better, our economy and energy sector have been improved. This $46 billion investment from China is the sign of confidence of international community in our economy, so we should stay focused and hopeful.
The Rector PIEAS said that PIEAS has been benefitting from HEC programs since 2000 and has been thrice ranked as a top engineering university of Pakistan in the HEC ranking, since 2006.
He further added that due to the remoteness of the area and security concerns not many people are familiar to this amazing university. There are 13 MS programs (8 Engineering programs, five Applied Sciences programmes along with five Bachelors programs currently ongoing in the university.
He also mentioned that 160 PhD students have been awarded degrees recently in different disciplines. Moreover he told that around 18 cancers hospitals including the famous Noori Hospital in Islamabad, are working under PIEAS.
In the end, the minister said the students were our national asset they are our future and we should invest in our future with full dedication. I would congratulate all the bright students of PIEAS to continue with their excellent academic achievements with the help of these laptops and contribute to the development of science and technology in Pakistan, said the minister.
He added that he hoped that the laptop scheme would contribute to national progress and pride in national achievements.The news.
