Education Minister Stresses need for collecting authentic data for country’s development

LAHORE: (Thursday, November 25, 2010): The Punjab Education Minister Mian Mujtaba Shuja ur Rehman has stressed the vital needs for collecting authentic, reliable and accurate data for effectively planning the development and progress of the country’s public as well as private sectors. He was addressing inaugural session of a 3 –day international conference on statistical sciences at Faisal Auditorium, Punjab University New Campus, Lahore, here on Thursday. The session was presided over by the Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Mujahid Kamran. Secretary Federal Statistics Division Asif Bajwa, Dr. Janair Fidaner from Turkey and Dr. Gulzar H. Shah from USA also spoke at the function. Pro Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Jamil Anwar Ch., deans of all faculties, senior faculty members, leading statisticians and a large number of students were also present. The Minister said the purpose of education and research is to introduce desirable changes in society which is not possible without the availability of worthwhile statistical sciences tools for effective planning. Globalization of market and operations have placed tremendous pressure on policy makers to take accurate decisions using the analysis of data and more accurate information. This signifies paramount importance of developing suitable statistical techniques and their applications in the 21st century global society and economy. The challenges faced by Pakistan’s developing economy can only be met through high quality research and academic activities in our universities. He said it is heartening to note that PU college of Statistical Sciences is imparting education and research of high standard to students and researchers and is devoted to the endless pursuit of excellence. He also promised that he would request the Chief Minister Punjab to sanction a special grant for construction of new building for the college. Speaking on the occasion Vice Chancellor Dr. Kamran Mujahid said that in this day and age the only way for Pakistan to take its rightful and honorable place in the world is to allocate at least four percent of its GDP for promotion of literacy and education. He said reliable and quality data is not only the need of every student and teacher who is interested in research but is also indispensable for policy and decision makers for our speedy socio-economic progress. He said no university can justify its existence without creation of new knowledge by promoting indigenous programme of PhDs. He regretted that total number of PhDs in all Pakistani universities is less than 4000, while UK university of Manchester alone has over 5000 PhDs. He said no Government till today has given the preference and attention to education sector which it deserves. Our leadership should realize the gravity of prevalent circumstances and take decisions which are commensurate with the needs and survival of the country.The college principal Dr. Shahid Kamal, in his welcome address emphasized the need for utilizing information technology in producing and using official statistics. He said there is a desperate need for an independent and effective statistical authority vested with powers to make all decisions regarding release of updated, accurate and precise data to increase its public credibility. He also paid rich tributes to Dr. Kamran for his total support and guidance to make the college a better place of learning. Dr. Janair Fidaner from Turkey & Dr. Gulzar H. Shah from USA, in their speeches observed that the conference will help reinforce scientific collaboration between national as well as international scholars and enable students to gain indepth knowledge of modern statistical and methodological issues in statistical sciences. Later, Dr. Shahid Kamal presented shields to Miam Mujtaba Shuja ur Rehman, Dr. Kamran, , Dr. Janair Fidaner, Dr. Gulzar H. Shah, Mr. Asif Bajwa and Dr. Jamil Anwar. Tweet Follow @pu_lhr_official