ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani Friday asked the graduating girl students to fully utilize their abilities for the overall progress and development of the country. Addressing a gathering of outgoing students and faculty members at the first convocation of Islamabad Model College for Girls F-10/2, the Prime Minister said educated women could do marvels in bringing positive change in the society. The Prime Minister said education was the basic essential for creating a civilized society and in turn play key role toward achieving sustainable economic growth. He said the government fully realized the importance of education and would take steps to enhance literacy rate. Gilani said the government had enhanced the budget of education sector from last years 24.4 billion to 31.1 billion and the focus would be laid on skill development and meaningful education. The Prime Minister said a new education policy would soon be launched in consultation with all stakeholders. He said women constituted about half of the population and said the government would provide them utmost opportunities to bring them into national mainstream. Gilani mentioned Shaheed Benazir Bhuttos vision of gender equality and said, We are committed to pursue the ideals by her. He said Benazir Income Support Programme was a project aimed at empowering household women. The Prime Minister said women possessed tremendous strong nerves and display sterling qualities even in hard circumstances. He appreciated the composure and courage showed by women facing hardship in Malakand division and assured that their sufferings would be over soon. They are not alone. Entire nations stands with them, he said. Gilani said the army had cleared major chunks of terrorist elements during the operation and said the situation in Swat would soon get normal. He directed the Ministry of Education to fulfill the demands of providing buses for college students to cater their everyday problem of transport. Minister of State for Education Mahar Ghulam Farid Kathia in his speech said the government encourages the participation of women in all walks of life. He congratulated the position holders and graduating students for showing excellence in educational field. Prime Minister Gilani later gave away prizes and certificates to the position holders. These include of Mehwish Nawaz (B.Sc) and Noorul Ain Qureshi (B.A) of session 2004-06, Kiran Zeb Abbasi (B.Sc) and Sitwat Fatima (B.A) of session 2005-07 and Huma Zainab (B.Sc) and Tooba Asif (B.A) of session 2006-08). State Minister for Economic Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar and Acting Federal Secretary for Education Shahid Ahmad and Director General Federal Directorate of Education Atiqur Rehman were also present.