ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Federal Minister for Science and Technology (S&T) Rana Tanveer Hussain Friday said that the government is committed to provide maximum educational facilities and opportunities to the students.
While addressing the closing ceremony of week-long Summer Camp for 2nd Batch of 300 students of the Development Project “Science Talent Farming Scheme” (STFS), he said that the launching of a fleet of nine mobile science labs under Science Talent Farming Scheme testify this resolve.
Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Secretary Ministry of S&T Fazal Abbas Maken, Chairman Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF) Professor Dr Muhammad Ashraf, Project Director STFS Jamil Qureshi, scientists, teachers and students were present on this occasion.
Earlier, Rana Tanveer Hussain and Ahsan Iqbal inaugurated a fleet of nine Mobile Labs at Pakistan Science Foundation. These mobile labs equipped with e-learning system will travel to far flung areas’ schools of the country having no or inadequate facilities of science practical.
The S&T minister said that despite hurdles the present government has set a direction to make Pakistan strong and prosperous. He said that the success of Science Talent Farming Scheme would be a moment of satisfaction for him.
The minister said that no doubt the scheme would produce best scientists in near future. Work on establishment of National Science School is also going on, he added.
Ahsan Iqbal said that science is a passion and quest for knowledge. He asked Pakistan Science Foundation to award students every year for best innovation and science research articles.
The planning and development minister said that under Vision 2025 the government has envisioned to make Pakistan one of the top 25 economies of the world. He said that STFS will help materialize this dream.
Federal Secretary for S&T Fazal Abbas Maken said that educated human resource is the best asset of a nation. He called upon the students to become frontline troops of the country in inventions and innovations to make the country prosperous and developed and this could be achieved by change in thinking and self-belief.
PSF chairman Professor Dr Muhammad Ashraf said that the selection of STFS students is being made on merit in a very transparent manner. He deplored that the condition of Science labs in most of the schools is very pathetic and most of the rural areas schools lack this vital part of science education.
Dr Muhammad Ashraf acclaimed the government’s Vision 2025. He said that under the STFS Pakistan Science Foundation has transformed science caravans into state of the art mobile science labs to provide lab facility to rural areas schools for improving the science education standards. He requested government to establish at least two state of the art science labs in every district every year.
Later, the Chief Guest the S&T Minister distributed laptops among 300 students of the 2nd batch of STFS students.