LAHORE: Poverty alleviation and development is possible only with the provision of modern educational facilities to all segments of society, Population Welfare Minister Neelam Jabbar Chaudhry said on Monday.

Talking to various youth delegations on World Literacy Day, she said that this century and the next belonged to Asia, just as the last two centuries had belonged to the West.

"To participate in this march, we have to prepare our people, as nearly 70% of them are uneducated or illiterate," she said.

Latest technology: She said that the youth are the future of the nation and the nation has to provide them with the latest scientific education and technology. She said that the present era of competition has made the world a global village and only those nations that possess the latest education and technology could become competent and be pioneers in their fields.

Neelam said that Pakistan, with its population of 160 million people, has a vibrant economy with a growth rate of 7%, making it the only economy to not face a decline in the number of people entering the labour force for the next 50 years.

She said that Rs 58.64 billion would be spent on the social sector development programme, Rs 30 billion would be earmarked for educational development projects and Rs 26.10 billion would be spent for the provision of healthcare facilities to people in the current fiscal year.

Neelam said that under the universal primary enrolment campaign, 1.7 million children would be enrolled in schools. Efforts would also be made to ensure admission of any remaining uneducated children, she added. She said that billions of rupees were being provided for the provision of computers to 4,000 high schools; model schools would be established at the tehsil headquarter level; and a free air-conditioned bus service would also be provided for the pick-and-drop service to the matriculation level students of less developed areas in the province.

Source: dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008%5C09%5C09%5Cstory_9-9-2008_pg7_39