ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif says that terrorist activities have decreased due to the security measures taken by the government and the lives of people are safe now.
Speaking at the launch of the first-ever Montessori section at the public school-level, Sharif said that security situation had improved significantly as a result of the successful operation against terrorists. He said the forward march would continue and the country would be completely rid of terrorism. He said that terrorism was a serious threat to the country.
Sharif said that his government was focusing on the education and health sectors. He said that maximum resources would be diverted to educational and health facilities across the country.
The Montessori section at the Islamabad Model School for Boys, F-8/3, now named Azaan Shah Shaheed School, will provide quality education to toddlers in a friendly environment with full focus on learning through colourful activities.
The school is one of the five government educational institutions in the federal capital where Montessori sections have been set up in the first phase. Other schools are in F-7, F-10, Sohaan and Khanna Daak sectors.
The prime minister said that focus on education was part of the manifesto of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and emphasised that an improved curriculum was vital to help the younger generation excel. He laid stress on the need for building the capacity of teachers to ensure quality education to students. He said that electricity load shedding in the country had decreased considerably and added that the power shortage would end in two years.
Sharif said his government was also focusing on the health sector and pointed to Prime Minister’s Health Insurance Programme under which needy patients were getting free treatment.
The prime minister directed the authorities to improve the security of the educational institutions. He said that raising the walls and installing razor wires was not the solution; the overall security set up needed to be improved.
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Information Minister Pervaiz Rasheed, State Minister for Capital Administration and Development Division Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, State Minister for Education Balighur Rehman and State Minister for Information Technology Anusha Rehman also attended the event. Prime minister’s daughter Maryam Nawaz Sharif, who is spearheading the educational reforms project, was also present.
As many as 422 schools and colleges operating under the Federal Directorate of Education are being upgraded under Prime Minister’s Education Reforms Programme. So far, work on 22 schools has been completed and work on the remaining 400 would be carried out in a year in two phases.
The prime minister earlier visited various sections of the school and had a candid talk with the schoolchildren who were happy after getting new computers, books and a play area. An Astroturf has been laid in the play area to provide a cosy environment to the young students. The prime minister was appreciative of the overall improvement in the school building. He praised Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and Maryam Nawaz for their efforts to improve the school buildings and provide facilities there. He however said that construction standard of the basketball court was not up to the mark. He directed Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry to get the glossy tiles on the stairs replaced because they posed a risk to students. The prime minister asked the school principal and staff of the Federal Directorate of Education to inspect the newly upgraded schools to ensure that they were properly maintained.
He said that talented students would be given sports kits with their choice of cricket and football. The prime minister ordered clean drinking water and clean toilets for the schools. The school administration changed the name of the school hall to Nawaz Sharif Auditorium.
Separately, the prime minister said that the civil service had a key role in development of Pakistan and the nation expected the civil servants to deliver in the best public interest.
Addressing a batch of newly promoted grade 22 officers here at the Prime Minister’s House, the prime minister said, “We all are part of the same team and we have to work for the betterment of our country.” The prime minister said, “Our approach in the government should be mission and rule-driven. We expect the highest level of integrity and transparency from our bureaucracy.”
The prime minister said that right decision-making was very important, and so was quick decision making. The prime minister congratulated the officers on their elevation and said the decision to elevate these officers was based on merit and transparency. He said, “The character, performance and conduct of officers was the sole criteria for promotions.”
