Laptops have been distributed among 454 students of KIU in the third phase of Prime Minister National Laptop Scheme for Talented students. The ceremony was held in KIU at Musharraf Hall and presided over by his Excellency Hafiz Hafeez-ur-Rehman, Chief Minister of Gilgit Baltistan. The ceremony was attended by Dr. Muhammad Iqbal, Minister Works, Mr. Jafarullah Khan, Deputy Speaker, GBLA, Dr. Muhammad Asif Khan, VC KIU, Faculty, Management, Media personnel and students of the university in great number. The students’ selection was made according to the set standard online process of HEC which is a screening process to select the most talented and consistently good performers in academics, for the award. His Excellency, CM GB, the esteemed Minister Works, the respectable Deputy Speaker and the esteemed VC KIU gave away the laptops to the students. Mr. Wajid Hussain, the Director Finance and the focal person of laptop scheme from KIU was present on the occasion to assist and facilitate the process while Mr. Muhammad Zafar Shakir, Assistant Prof. Department of Modern Languages, hosted the ceremony. It should be noted for the record that up till now 886 laptops have been distributed in the first two phases. With the distribution of 454 more laptop in this phase, the number has reached to 1340.
454 talented students of KIU received laptops in the third phase of the PM National Laptop Scheme, initiated by His Excellency, Mr. Nawaz Sharif, the PM of Pakistan. The ceremony was held in KIU at Musharraf Hall. His Excellency, Hafiz Hafeez-ur-Rehman, the CM of GB, was the chief guest to give away the laptops to the students.
In his speech, the chief guest urged the students to support government in its journey of progress and to solve the problems of the region in order to fill the colors in the dream of a prosperous and developed GB. The acquisition of higher education was a dream in the recent past for the poor students but with the personal interest and special instructions of the prime minister, GB govt. took important steps. We had promised to open sub-campuses of university in different districts. Accordingly, Hunza campus is functional and Ghizar and Diamer campuses will be functional by December, this year.
He further informed that the largest bridge of GB is under construction in Skardu at Chomik to build the building of Baltistan University across the river. The bridge is expected to be completed by the end of this year. The sub-campuses of Baltistan University will be established in Shigar, Ghanche and Kharmang while the sub-campuses of KIU will be opened in the sub-divisions of Gilgit and Hunza districts.
His Excellency further announced to provide two buses to cater the transportation needs of the KIU students in the upcoming budget. He affirmed that education is the top most priority of the government and in this regard all primary schools have been furnished with solely female faculty to strengthen and enhance the standard of basic education. Govt. is striving hard to educate females of every nook and corner of the province.
Mr. CM informed that a project worth two billion has been approved to provide potable water from Konodas to KIU to fulfill the needs of drinking water of the inhabitants of the area.
Mr. CM also mentioned the plan to construct the express way from KIU to Naltar; a public park between KIU and Danyore; a museum to preserve the historical Danyore tunnel and a resort there on the style of Manal Islamabad. His Excellency claimed that all projects will be started this year.
Mr. CM shared his idea to launch KIU school system like the schools system of other universities of the country and expressed intentions to share and discuss the plan with the competent authorities of the university and assured the university of providing whatever kind of support the university is needing from local government for that.
While addressing to the students, the worthy CM maintained that the aim of education should not be to get a degree and seek a job. It is fatal. The purpose of education should be to uplift the self and the nation at large. Students should feel their responsibilities in the rapidly changing scenario of Gilgit-Baltistan and shoulder the govt. in its journey to making the GB a welfare province. He said that we are inhabitants of an Islamic country and the University is a coeducational institution. The students have to take care of the Islamic values while acquiring education.
Prior to CM, Dr. Muhammad Asif Khan, VC, KIU, addressed to the audience and mentioned of the revolutionary steps the govt. has taken to give an end to the poverty from the region. Laptop scheme, Fee reimbursement scheme and opening of sub-campuses is part of the plan, he added. He further said that the laptop scheme was initiated by His Excellency, Mr. Nawaz Sharif , the PM of Pakistan, himself, in his 2015 visit to Gilgit when laptops were distributed by himself to the students. Up till now, 1340 laptops have been distributed in three phases and an amount of 260 million rupees has been reimbursed to 4387 students of the university under PM Fee Reimbursement Scheme. Mr. VC proudly informed that KIU is the only university of the country to win three sub-campuses from PMs Initiative to open campuses of universities in all districts of the country. Hunza campus is functional and Ghizar and Diamer campuses are soon to be established. Mr. VC expressed that KIU wishes to open more departments for which it needs construction of more academic blocks. The university needs the support of the govt. in this regard and hopes that govt. would extend support as usual.
Dr. Muhammad Iqbal, the Minister Works, in his speech said that the aim of the laptop scheme is to align the students with the needs of the modern times. The present govt. is serious and sincere in its efforts to bring progress and prosperity in the society. KIU has the credit to produce skilled, competent and talented work force. The students should thus play their respective role in the journey.
Mr. Jafarullah Khan, the Deputy Speaker of GB legislative Assembly, in his speech said that the students are the back bone of any nation. The future of the nations depend upon the students. Education is the only source to raise a nation. The students should thus pay full attention to their studies and play their role in the journey of development and progress of the country. He urged the students to utilize the laptops for educational and research purposes effectively.
