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Goct to bring about

changes in social,

economic fabric: CE

RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: Chief Executive of Pakistan Gen. Pervez Musharraf said on Monday that the main focus of the government was on bringing about long-term and inherent changes, whereby the institutional health could be restored across the board in the country's political, economic and social fabric.

He was speaking as chief guest at the third convocation of Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET).

He said: "Look at the way we are entering the new millennium.Education, the most fundamental need of our masses, has been the most neglected in our country during the last half century. What a pity that we cannot show even a respectable rate of literacy."

Gen. Musharraf said while half-hearted policies and even more half-hearted implementation could be blamed for the sorry state of affairs in general in the sector, education at the rudimentary level could have been attended to without any elaborate expansion in the infrastructure and supporting facilities, helping the people to learn at least the so-called Three R's.

He said the government now proposes to seriously and earnestly address the nagging problem of literacy and basic education in the country.

The Chief Executive said that it would have a colossal task of restructuring the entire system. "We have found each and every area of national life and activity contaminated by extensive exploitation and corruption, hence woefully misdirected."

However, he said the job Sir Syed University is doing is commendable. "The Aligarh Muslim University Old Boys' Association of Pakistan and the Sir Syed University are doing a splendid job by serving the country in a distinctive manner."

He said because of some of the institutions serving the nation, his faith in Allah has been strengthened. I have faith in our educational institutions, he added.

He said these institutions are the nurseries for those who will have to shoulder the responsibilities of leading their motherland with vigour and distinction, through the new century and beyond. "These are our think-tanks," he added.

He advised the teachers and the graduating students to keep abreast of the latest knowledge, particularly in science and technology.

Talking about information technology he said: "We are still far behind on this road to future progress and prosperity -- even in terms of export earnings, so crucial for a financially constrained country like ours."

He said it was gratifying that SSUET was all geared up to contributing substantially to software development and export. He assured all help in this respect.

Earlier, the Chancellor of the University, Z. A. Nizami, said in his address of welcome that the university is recognised by the University Grants Commission of Pakistan, and its degree programmes are accredited by the Pakistan Engineering Council.

He said the university has been accepted as a member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities, and is certified for H1 Visas by the United States Immigration, its degrees having been declared equivalent to similar degrees in the USA.

The university has set up an Institute of Human Settlements and Environment, geared to carrying out field-oriented research. The university also intends to produce disaster relief plans for the country related to possible calamities such as cyclones, earthquakes, floods, nuclear hazards, fire, pollution due to water, sewerage waste and the like.

Nizami said the university is determined to contribute, significantly and measurably, to the national information technology education programme.

"One important step in this direction has been the establishment, at the university, of a software technology incubator as the nucleus of the ultimate full-fledged facility, to be known as the Sir Syed Technology Park."

There were 146 recipients of BS in computer engineering, 124 recipients in BS in electronic engineering, 38 recipients in BS bio-medical engineering and 24 recipients in BS civil engineering. Thirteen graduates were awarded gold medals for their outstanding academic performance.

Sindh Governor Mohammad Azim Daudpota was also present. The convocation was largely attended by the old Aligarians, civil and military officers, leading educationists, graduating students and their parents.