Education vital for national progress, economic growth: PA Speaker

LAHORE, Jun 09 (APP): Punjab Assembly (PA) Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan on Tuesday said that education was the most powerful tool for promoting social equality, strengthening institutions and ensuring sustainable national development.

He stressed that investment in quality education, research, innovation and technology were essential for building a competitive and prosperous Pakistan.

Addressing the Malaysia Destination Launch Event as chief guest, here, he said empowering Pakistani youth with internationally recognized education and future-oriented skills was not merely an educational objective but a strategic national necessity.

The event was attended by Area Director IDP Education Pakistan Humayun Bin Akram, representatives of Malaysian universities, vice chancellors, academicians, school principals, counsellors and other stakeholders from the education sector.

Congratulating IDP Education on introducing Malaysia as a new study destination for Pakistani students, the Speaker appreciated the organization’s contribution to facilitating access to quality higher education opportunities. He said international education helped develop leadership qualities, critical thinking, research capabilities and global competencies, enabling students to contribute effectively to national progress.

Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan said Pakistan’s aspiration to become a knowledge-based economy required substantial improvement in educational infrastructure, particularly by transforming primary and middle schools into modern institutions equipped with advanced technology, quality learning environments and competent teachers. Equal access to quality education, he added, was the foundation of an inclusive and progressive society.

Expressing concern over educational disparities, he said while affluent families could invest heavily in their children’s education, millions of students continued to study in under-resourced institutions, limiting their opportunities to compete on merit in professional fields, including medicine and other specialized disciplines.

The Speaker described the presence of more than 25 million out-of-school children in Pakistan as one of the country’s most pressing development challenges and called for a coordinated national effort involving the government, parliament, educational institutions, the private sector and civil society to ensure universal access to education.

Referring to Malaysia’s rise as a major educational hub in Asia, he said its internationally accredited universities, affordable tuition, English-medium instruction, multicultural environment and technology-driven academic system had made it an attractive destination for students seeking globally recognized qualifications. He also highlighted Malaysia’s progress in artificial intelligence, digital innovation, research and emerging technologies.

The Speaker appreciated Pakistani universities that had partnered with international institutions to offer globally recognized degree programmes within the country and urged the Higher Education Commission and relevant authorities to expand scholarships and financial assistance so that deserving students could benefit from such opportunities regardless of their economic background.

He said the real purpose of international education extended beyond obtaining academic degrees and included bringing back advanced knowledge, research expertise, technological innovation and global best practices to strengthen Pakistan’s institutions and accelerate national development. He urged Pakistani students studying abroad to return and utilize their education and experience for the country’s progress. “The future of Pakistan depends on our collective commitment to educational excellence, equal opportunity and the empowerment of every child through quality learning,” he concluded.