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SPEECH OF SYED YUSUF RAZA GILANI

PRIME MINISTER OF PAKISTAN

ON THE 58TH FOUNDERS DAY OF

SADIQ PUBLIC SCHOOL, BAHAWALPUR

FEBRUARY 21, 2011

******** Sardar Muhammad Latif Khan Khosa, Governor Punjab, President Board of Governors, SPS Honorable Ministers & Members of Parliament Gen Mian Muhammad Hilal Hussain, GOC 35 Division, Chairman Executive Committee, SPS Major Syed Munir Ahmad, Principal & Secretary Board ofGovernors, SPS Respected Parents Distinguished Old Sadiqians Dear Students

Ladies and Gentlemen

Assalam-o-AlaikumIt is a matter of pleasure for me to participate in the 58 th Annual Founders Day of SadiqPublic School, one of the most prestigious public schools of our country. At the outset, Iwould like to pay tribute to Sir Nawab Sadiq Muhammad Khan Abbasi, the founding-father of this school, for his vision that led to the setting up of this school at Bahawalpuron the lines of Eton and Harrow in UK and Aitchison in Pakistan.

I would also like to recognize the founder Principal, Khan Anwar Sikandar Khan, and hisable deputy Mr Abu Zafar Haneef who teamed up for almost two decades, leaving afootprint of excellence in the field of education and earned a reputation SADIQ is rightly

proud of.The objective of education is the formation of character and a responsible citizenry.Education is the pivot upon which the edifice of progress of nations is built up. It is anornament which beautifies a nation and equips it with necessary capabilities to cope upwith the challenges of time. It helps in building up cultural ethos and preserving thenational values and identity by transferring their knowledge to the next generations.The status of the country in the comity of nations is determined by a mix of political,strategic and economic factors. Political and economic dominance cannot sustainable unless propped up educational advancement especially in the field ofscience and technology. The recent developments in the field of education as well asscience and technology have left nations with little option but to invest a sizeable

percentage of their GDP on education and human resource development. Nationscannot afford to be complacent if they have to ensure national development.Ladies & GentlemenTodays world is confronted with numerous challenges, challenges that can reshape ourcollective direction and impact our future depending upon how we respond to them. It isa complex world defined by the forces of change and evolution. Only those individualsand nations can compete in todays hi-tech environment who have sorted out their

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national priorities and made knowledge the pivot of their progress and development.Our dream of national development would remain a dream unless our universities andeducational institutions become the hub of research and creativity. As long as oureducational institutions do not have the capacity and will to offer fresh insights andcreative solutions to the contemporary problems, we cannot move forward on the ladderof progress and prosperity. This requires us to depart from our traditional ways of

thinking and embrace change to catch up with the currents of time.After the 18th Amendment, education is precisely a provincial subject and the federalgovernment would only extend policy guidelines. The government prepared comprehensive National Educational Policy 2009 in consultation with the federatingunits and other stakeholders. This Policy has set ambitious goals of raising the annualbudgetary allocations for the sector to seven per cent of the GDP and increasingliteracy to 85 per cent by 2015. The main thrust of the policy is to achieve theMillennium Development Goal of universal primary education by 2015. Syllabus ofpublic sector schools would be improved in consultation with private sector schools toreduce disparity between the two sectors. The policy envisages a regime of strictuniform examination system across the country. The policy lays special focus on

gender equality and bridging urban-rural divide.Ladies and Gentlemen:As I speak to you at this point in time, our great nation is at a decisive phase of ourhistory. The retrogressive forces are adamant to impose their myopic and narrow-minded agenda. It goes without saying that terrorism and extremism constitute thedaunting challenge for our state and society. As I keep saying that it is not merely aphysical fight. Rather it is battle of ideas. Through indiscriminate killing of humanity andresort to violence, the forces of conservatism and darkness want to push us to theStone Age. These bigoted elements are also bringing the fair name of Islam intodisrepute. In order to comprehensively eliminate extremism and terrorism, we need todefeat the idea which generates it in the first place. I am reminded of the quote ofShaheed Mohtrama Benazir Bhutto wherein she said and I quote:

An inferior idea can be killed by a superior idea only.This is possible only when our intellectuals, religious scholars, academia and studentscome forward and join their hands with the government in an effort to preserve ouridentity and national ethos.Respected participantsThe educational institutions have huge obligations on their shoulders on this count.They must launch intellectual Jihad against terrorism and extremism by inculcating thevalues of respect, moderation, diversity and harmony among its students. Our schools,colleges and universities must become the hub of generating fresh and creative ideals.Our great religion, Islam, is a religion of peace and love. It enjoins upon its believers topromote integration and establish inclusive society where every citizen of the stateirrespective of his colour, caste, race and creed is equal before the eyes of law and has

equal right to opportunities.We need to emphasize shared values and commonalities instead of highlightingdivisions. We owe it to our coming generations to leave a peaceful world for them. Theessential message of globalisation is interdependence and it must be our collectiveendeavour to promote peace and engage with one anther to foil all conspiracies againsthumanity and our great religion Islam.Distinguished audience

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Now I want to give a message to the students. You should become the ambassador ofhope and keep optimism as your ideal. You have to keep pace with the demands oftime and prepare yourself for future leadership roles, which is possible if you refuse tobe cowed down by the impediments. Treat difficulties as challenges. You are amongstthe very few blessed with an opportunity to learn and grow. Prepare yourself to meetthe challenge of tomorrow. Make the best of your time here. Our great leader, Quaid-e-

Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had great hopes on the youth. He once said and I quote:

Pakistan is proud of her youth, particularly the students, whoare nation builders of tomorrow. They must fully equipthemselves by discipline, education, and training for thearduous task lying ahead of them.

Finally, Mr. Principal, I congratulate you, your faculty & staff for shouldering the sacredresponsibility of building talents, inculcating knowledge, fostering courage, and aboveall preparing the students to face the practical world of tomorrow. The Principal's reportin respect of results in public examination shows a steady improvement, qualitatively and quantitatively. I am extremely pleased to note that due attention is also

given to extra curricular activities which is an imperative for a balanced and healthydevelopment of personalities.

In the end I would like to thank all of you for inviting me to preside over this grandoccasion and providing me with an opportunity to address the students, parents, guestsand the Alumni. Let me wind up with the quote of the Quaid-e-Azam:

Development is being sought in every walk of life and youhave to take on this process of development. Are youpreparing to take on tomorrow's responsibilities? Are youbuilding your capacity? Are you trained enough? If no, then goand prepare yourself because this is the time to prepare

yourself for future responsibilities.Pakistan Paindabad