RAWALPINDI - Punjab Minister for Education and Excise and Taxation Mian Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman has said that the provincial government is giving top priority to education and for the purpose, 60 per cent budget has been enhanced by the present government for education as compared to the budgetary allocations of the last regime. He was addressing a certificate-awarding ceremony of Orient International Commerce College, Satellite Town Rawalpindi. Chief Executive of the college Shafique-ur-Rehman, principal, teachers and large number of boy and girl students were also present on the occasion. The minister said that no nation could progress without acquiring quality education and due to revolutionary steps taken by Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, the literacy rate in Punjab had been raised up to 48 per cent which was the highest among all provinces of the country. He said that the Chief Minister, soon after taking the oath of his office, while addressing the provincial assembly had announced emergency in education sector with a view to improve educational standard as well as enhancing opportunities of education for the children of the province at massive level especially in backward areas. Mian Mujtaba said that out of nine crore population of Punjab, more than 12 million children were studying in government schools and the government was providing them free books, facilities in the schools besides ensuring teachers training on modern lines. He added that Punjab government had allocated Rs 4 billion for providing fee to the school students of the backward areas in the province. The government has committed to encourage private sector for promotion of education and an Education Welfare Endowment Fund (EWEF) had also been established by the government through contributing Rs 2 billion per year with a target to raise it up to Rs 10 billion within next five years for providing scholarships to the talented students for acquiring education from school to higher education level and even education from abroad, he added. He said that the provincial government would leave no stone unturned for the improvement of education sector and the Chief Minister was giving all possible resources for the betterment of education and health sector. The minister distributed certificates among students for completing various courses and degrees in the college and lauded the hard work of the teachers for excellent educational results. Earlier, the Chief Executive of the college, Shafique-ur-Rehman presenting welcome address highlighted the educational facilities in the institution and underlined the performance of the students in their examinations. He informed that the college had the 26 classrooms, one auditorium, lab and library and a pure educational atmosphere had been ensured in the institution to impart education to the girl and boy students.