KARACHI, Feb 26: The two-day "Dawn Education Expo, 2005", with over 70 stalls by various educational institutions from abroad and within the country, will commence on Sunday at the Karachi Expo Centre.

The exhibition includes a UK pavilion where consultants and representatives from about 40 universities and educational concerns would be available to visitors, providing information about courses and degrees they have in store for Pakistani students.

A coordinator for the education exhibition, which is being held for the second time in the city, said that all the exhibitors would be located in two halls. The entry to the exhibition will be free, but visitors to the UK pavilion will be charged an amount of Rs50, the coordinator added, saying that the entry fees collected at the UK pavilion would be utilized for charity purposes.

The exhibition will be open to public and students from 11 am to 8 pm on Feb 27 and 28. We expect a much bigger crowd than that of the last year due to the presence of a good and diverse collection of higher education programmes from Pakistan and international institutions under one banner, added an organizer.

Dawn education exhibition is also scheduled to be held at Lahore (March 2 and 3) and Islamabad (March 5 and 6).

An inauguration ceremony of the Karachi education expo was held at the Karachi Expo Centre on Saturday. Chairman Higher Education Commission(HEC) Dr Attaur Rahman presided over the function, while, among other dignitaries, UK Deputy High Commissioner Hamish St Clair Daniel Peter was also present.

Dr Attaur Rehman informed the audience that government of Pakistan had allocated about 2.3 per cent of its GNP as education sector expenditures, out of which 30 per cent was earmarked for higher education teaching, training and research. He remarked that the amount allocated for the higher education in the country should be increased further.

He apprised the audience about measures taken by the HEC to raise the standard of education, quality of faculty and available infrastructure at the higher education institutions in the country. He was of the view that since in addition to strategy and vision, money was also now made available in the education sector, he did not see any reason why the higher education system would not excel and help the country putting it on the path of success and make it a knowledge-based economy.

He said that a comprehensive national strategy for the development of Pakistan has been finalized by a team under his leadership. The team had prepared a report which would be placed before the cabinet soon, for implementation.

He remarked that every year about one billion dollars were spent collectively by parents for education of their wards in foreign countries, which could be saved for building up some high standard educational institutions of international repute in the country, where not only the children of elite, but the poor could also have an opportunity of education. At present 2.9 per cent of the Pakistani youth of 17-23 age group had the access to higher education facilities, he added.

The provincial education minister, Dr Hameeda Khuhro, said that during the last 50 years or so education sector could not be given its due importance. The major damage to education system was done due to the denationalization policy in the 70s.

The British deputy high commissioner, Hamish Daniel said that Pakistani students had got a great deal of talent and needed to be exploited in line with the need and requirement of the country. There was a huge challenge of poverty and resource shortage before Pakistan for equipping its youth power with the modern day knowledge and scientific developments, he added, saying that the United Kingdom was extending support to Pakistan through funding and educational agencies to over come the situation.

The director of British Council Karachi, Charlie Walker, and CEO Dawn group of newspaper Hameed Haroon also spoke on the occasion.

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