Six world-class engineering universities by 2008: Musharraf lays Tuwairqi Steel foundation
KARACHI (March 31 2006): President General Pervez Musharraf on Thursday said that six world-class engineering universities will start functioning in Pakistan by 2008. Pakistan, he said, has embarked upon a programme to enhance the quality of its human resource.
"For this purpose, we have planned to establish six engineering universities in Pakistan with the help of Sweden, France, Germany, Netherlands and Austria," he added.
He was speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony of $130 million state-of-the-art steel making Tuwairqi Steel Mills (TSM) over an area of 220 acres at Port Qasim. The production capacity of the TSM can be expanded to 1.5 million tonnes and subsequently to 3 million tonnes in future.
Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad, Chief Minister Dr Arbab Rahim, Industries and Production Minister Jahangir Khan Tareen, Saudi Arabian Ambassador in Pakistan Ali S. Awadh Asseri and senior civil and military officials and members of the diplomatic corps were also present on the occasion.
He said that the disciplines of these universities will be heavy industry and engineering sector with a view to enhance expertise of our young engineers. "For enhancing expertise of our technicians, we have set up a separate body in the form of Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (Tevta)," he said, adding that the body is headed by Saleem Altaf.
Referring to the training programme of Al-Tuwairqi Group for Pakistani engineers and technicians, he said that was the real transfer of technology and enhancing the quality of manpower in Pakistan.
He said that technical education was taken away from the Education Ministry and Tevta would look after it, which would ensure quality training of technicians. The government is also looking into the present and future needs of Pakistani industry and these universities would design disciplines according to these requirements.
"This is the spectrum how we want to take our youths forward. At the end of the day it is human resource development which will propel us forward," he said.
The president said that Pakistan would gradually shift its focus from agriculture and textile to heavy industry and engineering sector to achieve a quantum jump in exports.
He said that going into heavy industry and engineering sector is the future of Pakistan. "Since we are in the process of enhancing our exports, it becomes very clear that the country should go into heavy industry and engineering sector which is 60 percent of the world trade," he added.
Musharraf said that only textile sector contributed only 6 percent of the world trade, adding that this was the reason why country's exports were not at the desired level. "If we want to enhance our exports we have to go into heavy industry and engineering sector," he said.
The President said Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy brotherly relations through many years. "His Majesty King Abdullah calls me his brother and he says he means it, I call him my elder brother and I mean it," the president said.
The president appreciated the efforts of Al-Tuwairqi Group Chairman Dr Hilal Al-Tuwairqi for development in Pakistan.
Talking of business and economic relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, he said that both the countries would cement these bonds in the 21st century.
He said this century was not geo-politics, but it was geo-economic. It is the economic, trade and commercial relations, which cement bonds (between the nations), he added.
President Musharraf said that trade was improving between the two brotherly countries, but investment was to be further encouraged. Dr Hilal was exactly doing the same to further enhance bilateral relations.
Referring to the policy of deregulation, liberalisation and privatisation, he said that it has paid dividend and caused upsurge in the economy.
He urged Dr Hilal to participate in the privatisation of Pakistan Steel Mills and modernise it. This is the need of the country, he said.
The president said industry was growing at a fast pace. In 2004, it was 18.2 percent and it is in double digits this year and the country needs steel and energy, he added.
He expressed his desire that these two steel mills should expand their production to cater to the demands of the growing industry in Pakistan.
He termed the groundbreaking of Tuwairqi Steel Mills a landmark event.
Industry Minister Jahangir Khan Tareen said that the country's requirement for steel was about 5-6 million tonnes and it would be increased by 7-8 million tonnes in 10 years.
He said the government was undertaking programme to enhance technical expertise in the country. The minister said the government wanted to pass on the fruits of economic upsurge to the people by providing them education, healthcare and clean drinking water.
Dr Hilal Al-Tuwairqi in his lively speech said that his company has selected Pakistan for this latest steel mill due to its investment-friendly rules and regulations.
Calling President Musharraf as the strongest leader in the Islamic world and a man of Islam and peace, Tuwairqi said that he has changed Pakistan. He said that the mill with state-of-the-art technology would start production in 18 months.
Al-Tuwairqi Group Vice Chairman M. Tariq Barlas said that the plant using the latest directly reduced iron (DRI) technology would produce one million tonnes of steel in the first phase. This can go up to three million tonnes, he added.
He said this mill would directly employ 3,500 engineers and technicians and create job opportunities in the services sector.
Barlas said his group was the largest private steel-producing conglomerate in the Kingdom. Earlier, on his arrival, the president performed the groundbreaking and offered Dua for its success.
