Road show: ‘Knowledge Park will offer quality education’

A message received here said he was addressing a road show on the Knowledge Park project, in London. Several British investors, heads of universities, deans and educationists were present.

Sharif said the park was being set up to provide quality higher education to those who could not afford to study abroad.

He said foreign universities would be encouraged to set up their campuses at the Knowledge Park. He said the Information Technology University, Punjab, will also set up a campus there.

The chief minister said Pakistan-UK friendship was based on historic and cultural ties. “We value the UK’s assistance for improving Pakistani education sector.”

He said extremism and violence in Pakistan had not taken roots in a day; it would also take some time to eliminate it.

“Guns alone can’t overcome militancy… we will have to consider ground realities.” He said tolerance, patience and broadmindedness could not be promoted without education.

He said development was not possible without education. He said education did not only help one secure a job, it also taught one self respect.

Sharif said Pakistan had lost 40,000 lives in the war against terrorism.

“Our commitment to eliminate terrorism is beyond any doubt,” he said.

Education Minister Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan said the establishment of the Knowledge Park on 852 acres would prove a revolution in the educational economics of South Asia. He said he hoped foreign educational institutions would set up their campuses at the Knowledge Park.

British High Commissioner in Pakistan Philip Barton praised the Pakistani leaders for working for education. He said the education sector in Pakistan had been progressing. He said the UK would continue to cooperate with Pakistan to uplift the standards of education.

He said the office of a deputy high commissioner of the UK would soon be set up in Lahore.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 3^rd, 2014.