Punjab to set up fund for deserving students, says CM

Tuesday, September 16, 2008 Islamabad Punjab Chief Minister Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that the provincial government will establish an Education Endowment Fund (EEF) with one billion rupees for deserving students, so they can complete their higher studies. “We are going to announce the establishment of Education Endowment Fund with Rs1 billion within the next few days,” he told a private TV channel. The Punjab government would bear the expense of all the needy and deserving students for admission in professional colleges and universities, he said adding that the provincial government is taking practical steps to mitigate the sufferings of the common man. He said the 20kg flour bag is available across the province at Rs300 due to government’s effective strategy.To a question, he said that PML-N believes in the policy of ‘live and let live’ and does not want the derailment of democracy. He said that PML-N leader Mian Nawaz Sharif has stated very clearly that the party would not take any step against the democratic norms. Shahbaz Sharif said the Punjab government has no intention to oust the PPP ministers from the provincial government, saying, “For the time being, we will maintain the status quo in Punjab.” However, he expressed concern on the statements of Governor Punjab Salman Taseer with regard to PML-N and the Punjab government. He said that Advisor to PM on Interior Rehman Malik recently visited Lahore to discuss the prevailing political situation in Punjab and talked about the need for a reconciliatory approach.