“Without education, it is complete darkness and with education it is light” –Muhammad Ali Jinnah
“Without education, it is complete darkness and with education it is light” –Muhammad Ali Jinnah
Before the creation of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah gave a clear vision that education is the key and the most important pillar for the development of every nation. He always highlighted that to excel as a nation we must invest in our industrial and agriculture sectors. Education plays a key role in the industrial and social development of any country. Evidence shows that without the right type of education, advancement in science, technology, and research is not possible.
According to the Economic Survey of Pakistan 2020-21, the literacy rate has remained stagnant at 60% for the past 7 to 8 years. The higher education enrollment rate in Pakistan is currently at 12% compared to the world average which is 40%. The GDP expenditure on education has remained as low as 1.5% in 2020-21. This shows us a dismal picture of Pakistan’s education sector.
Namal University was founded in 2008 by Mr. Imran Khan who sought to create a knowledge city in Mianwali. Today the university aims to provide academic excellence not only for the development of Pakistan but also for the uplift of the rural communities across all provinces. Students at Namal come from 71 districts of Pakistan and represent different religious and ethnic backgrounds. More than 80% of students come from rural areas. 37% of all students are females. Thus, Namal is a true bearer of Quaid’s mission in which he stated that people belonging to any caste or religion are equal citizens of the country and anyone who upholds this vision will strengthen the business of the country.
Namal is the first step towards creating Asia’s biggest knowledge city. Once built, the knowledge city will be a hub of research. It will bring together knowledge workers from all over the world to constitute one of Pakistan’s largest consortiums to acquire, create, disseminate, and utilize knowledge. Developed nations all across the world have relied on knowledge as an engine of growth; thus, the Namal Knowledge City will prove to be a gateway to a prosperous Pakistan.
On this 75th Independence Day of Pakistan, we celebrate Namal’s efforts to empower the youth of our country. We also congratulate friends of Namal who have invested in the knowledge economy of Pakistan and have made Namal a reality.
Happy 75th Independence Day of Pakistan!