HAFIZABAD - Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has declared that education is prerequisite for rapid development and the dream progress and prosperity can only be achieved through promotion of education, modern knowledge and techniques among the younger generation.
The Punjab government is committed to the cause and has been spending billion of rupees for the promotion of education, earmarked endowment fund for 35,000 students, established IT labs in all institutions for promotion of modern knowledge and distributed laptops to thousands of brilliant students to materialise the dream.
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif expressed the remarks during his visit to the remote village of Muhammad Mohsin Ali, who bagged first position in the BA examinations of the Punjab University by beating all previous records with 688 out of 800 total marks.
Accompanied by Zaeem Qadri and flanked by MNA Saira Afzal Tarar, former federal Parliamentary Secretary Ch Afzal Hussain Tarar, MPAs Asadullah Arain and Mian Shahid Bhatti and other party leaders, the chief minister handed over key and proprietary rights of a house to Muhammad Mohsin Ali in Ashiana Housing Scheme Lahore in recognition of his brilliant achievement without having financial resources and other facilities. The CM also announced up-gradation of Govt High School Min Raheeman to Higher Secondary level and appointment of doctors in the Basic Health Unit in the village. He said that he always patronized intelligent, talented and poor students, therefore, he himself visited Mohsin’s village for appreciation and his encouragement. He also referred to Daanish Schools which have been established in remote areas for facilitating the poor students to get better education and become better citizens and assist the progress and prosperity of the country.
The Punjab CM pointed out that there was no dearth of excellent brains and workers in the country and urged the youth to follow Mohsin who got the big distinction by running a “Tandoor”. He said that no one other than he (Mohsin) himself and his parents deserve credit for the success. He said that in the past children of capitalists and feudal lords only got distinction but time has proved that the poor and hard worker could get distinction. He assured Mohsin that the Punjab government would bear all expenses of his higher education both in and outside the country.
The Punjab CM had already rewarded the topper with Rs One million soon after the declaration of BA results last week, in Lahore.  On the occasion, Mohsin and his parents thanked the CM for his noble gesture and visit to their remote village.
Meanwhile, the Punjab CM also assured Hafiza Muqaddas Shahbaz of Hafizabad who got third position in BA examination, that she would also be provided with financial assistance to continue her further studies. Ms Muqaddas, who is an orphan, had studied up to BA by stitching clothes of villagers in Vanike Tarar (Hafizabad) had regretted that she has been ignored while providing financial assistance as has been given to other toppers.
ASI INJURED IN MISHAP: A police Van carrying policemen to Mian Raheeman skidded of the canal bank and fell into the Jhang Branch Canal near Bhoon village as a result of which an ASI Muhammad Boota sustained injuries.
According to Rescue 1122 the speeding police van was carrying some COPs to Mian Raheeman when reached near Bhoon village it swerved off the canal bank and fell in the canal. Rescue squad rushed to the spot and pulled out the COPS and van. Injured ASI Boota has been removed to the DHQ hospital.