Govt has made great achievements despite all odds: PM 

      
LAHORE, Nov 5 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said on Friday that his government has made great achievements on various fronts despite all odds.He was talking to media after addressing an international education conference on “School of Tomorrow: Freedom to Learn” organised by Beaconhouse School System (BSS) here at a hotel, where BSS Chairman Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri, Chairperson Nasreen Mahmood Kasuri, CEO Qasim Kasuri as well as educationist from UK, USA, New Zealand, India, Pakistan and representatives of the NGOs concerned were also present.
The Prime Minister said that he had announced the accession of a tribal area ‘Kala Dhaka’ to settled areas of the country after a long period of 110 years, besides ensuring provision of internal autonomy to Gilgit-Baltistan, settling down the 7th NFC Award in an amicable manner and passing the 18th amendment.
To a question about recent Nawaz Sharif’s statement against him, the Prime Minister said it was Nawaz Sharif’s personal opinion and “We respect and accommodate the views of all.” The PPP was adhering to the policy of reconciliation in the best interest of the country and democracy as well, he added.
Gilani added that nobody objected the dictatorship when it was in place, but the democratic and political government had always been criticised and every sort of allegations levelled against the political leadership.
Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed and Mian Nawaz Sharif had been dethroned twice after being subjected to such allegations, while Muhammad Khan Junejo had also faced the same situation, he said.
It is not too easy to run the affairs of the state, especially in the prevailing circumstances, he observed and added, “whoever comes to power, will be facing criticism.”
He also categorically rejected the imposition of martial law in the country in future.
To another question, he said, those, who had endured the dictatorial rule for 10 long years and were objecting the democratic set-up today, should develop a habit of supporting and strengthening the democracy in the country.
Earlier, addressing the education conference, the Prime Minister said that government was very much committed to the cause of education and knowledge in accordance with the vision of Quaid-i-Azam.
The nations, which focused on education and research, are now swaying the world, he said, adding, “If we have to find a niche in the comity of nation, we will have to invest heavily in the vital sector of education.
The Prime Minister said the government was also giving utmost importance to the practice of research, which is a must for the promotion of education. It ensures nation’s development, ethical behaviours, peaceful co-existence, discipline as well as advocates democracy, he added.
Gilani said that Islam also attaches great importance to knowledge and learning, adding, “Education is a matter of life and death for our nation.”
He said the government was promoting the education sector by mobilizing not only the parents and teachers but also the whole social community, which would ultimately guarantee Pakistan’s progress and the people’s prosperity.
Prime Minister commended the BSS efforts for bringing together the international educationist to reassess the conventional education system and to discuss the ways and means to make it the most effective with regards to polishing the talent and skills of the young students in this age of technological and scientific development.
It is also imperative to put the education system on modern lines and the ‘Freedom to Learn’ would pave for achievement of this goal. The two-day conference, he added, would also focus on re-establishing educational opportunities in the flood-affected areas of Pakistan.
Gilani said the BSS was playing vital role in the promotion of education in the country, and it has a reason, as a private institution, to be a national asset.
In his welcome address, the BSS CEO Qasim Kasuri said, ‘School of Tomorrow: Freedom to Learn’ is the latest in a series of academic conferences organised by Beaconhouse since 1989. For the first time, the conference was opened to everyone from both public and private sectors as well as NGOs, with a stake in improving schools, he added.