Govt to upgrade libraries for online and digital networking | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

Govt to upgrade libraries for online and digital networking

Pakistan Press Foundation

LAHORE: Punjab Governor Chaudhary Muhammad Sarwar on Sunday said that government was working actively to discuss ways, means and modalities to upgrade libraries on modern lines in all major districts of the province in a phased programme .

The governor, in an interview with APP said that libraries are part and parcel in education system and always contribute a major role in promoting quality education.

He said that efforts were being made to introduce “on line and digital networking” in libraries throughout the province on the model of main library of the Punjab University.

He said that during the last visit to the Punjab University, he found its main library to be one of the best and largest in the country.

About the sorry state of affairs of the Quaid-i-Azam Library at Bagh-e-Jinnah, he said that although it is a reference library in the city but its contribution towards pursuits of modern knowledge is yet not up to mark and it badly needs revamping to make it an effective institution.

He said that experts from the Pakistan Library Association, LUMS and the Department of Library and Information Science Punjab University would also be involved in proper up-gradation of libraries.

Regarding education, he said that the government would continue to focus on promotion of quality education in the province.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif attach great importance to provision of modern quality education to the people at their doorsteps, the governor added. He said that during last vice chancellors’ conference here at the Governor’s House, four high level committees of VCs, each headed by senior VC, were constituted for practicable proposals.

He said these proposals were now being studied and examined thoroughly for implementing in the entire education department, including private and public sector varsities.

He said a scientific mechanism within the ambit of law was also being evolved to monitor the overall academic performance of universities.

The governor said 24 public and 22 privately run universities were imparting education in various teaching disciplines across the province and the Punjab University having over 80 faculties had the highest number of 33,252 students with lowest free structure in the world.

He said that in the light of the recommendations of the VC committees, a complete concrete summary would be sent to the chief minister.

Responding to a question he said complaints are being launched against the deteriorating educational standards in most of the private sector universities and enrolment of maximum number of students beyond the capacity of their campuses in different cities. He said complaints were being examined seriously and all efforts would be made to put the things in proper track.

He said the Chairman Higher Education Commission would also be involved to check these malpractices in private universities and no one would be allowed to play with the destiny of the nation for the monetary gains.

Daily Times