International universities will establish their campuses in the recently inaugurated Lahore Technopolis, revealed Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar on Sunday.
A delegation led by Provincial Minister for Higher Education Raja Yasir Humayun called on Chief Minister Buzdar at the CM Office on Sunday. Matters related to higher education came under discussion during the meeting. The minister informed the chief minister about the measures taken by the government in the higher education sector. The chief minister said the former government did not take any practical steps for the promotion of education and only hoodwinked people through hollow slogans. Buzdar said Lahore Knowledge Park project is an open proof of their incompetence, as this project has been in the files only for the last 10 years.
He said Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government had started work on the Lahore Technopolis project, which is being set up under the vision of “Excellence in Knowledge and Enterprise”. The chief minister said that funds would be given to the youth besides providing them business opportunities and training.
Lahore Technopolis would get all the benefits under the Special Technology Zone Act (STZA) besides getting tax exemption for 10 years. Zone Enterprises would get exemption from property tax, PRA services tax for 10 years. This project would be a game-changer for the new generation, he added. Usman Buzdar said that modern education was the right of every child and due to the education-friendly policies of the government, 21 universities have been included in the international and Asian rankings.
Buzdar said that the government is going to introduce the concept of smart university in the province. The delegation included Knowledge Park Chairman Jamal Ansari, Rapid Silicon Chief Executive Officer Naveed Sharwani, IT University Vice Chancellor Sarfraz Khurshid and Muhammad Humayun Qayum.
Also, Chief Minister Buzdar lauded the performance of the Cabinet Committee for Law and Order, police, administration and law enforcement agencies for taking excellent security arrangements on Christmas and Quaid-e-Azam Day. Buzdar said the Christian community celebrated Christmas in a safe environment. Coordination between agencies concerned and the provincial agencies and departments was excellent, he noted.
