LAHORE: Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) Chairman Prof Dr Shahid Munir has said that promoting higher education is the need of the hour to bring Pakistan into the ranks of developed countries.

He expressed these views while addressing the 13th Post-Graduate Students` Conference (PGSC) organised by Punjab University Institute of Education and Research on the topic of `Transformation of higher education: Theory to skills`.

Director Institute of Education and Research Prof Dr Rafaqat AliAkbar, Conference Secretary Prof Dr. Muhammad Shahid Farooq, senior faculty members and MPhil / PhD scholars participated in the event.

Dr Shahid Munir said the purpose of universities was to create new knowledge keeping in mind modern trends because good institutions could bring about a positive change in society.

He said like the developed countries, the developing states should also take steps for the development of human resources.

He said the culture of entrepreneurship should be promoted to reduceunemployment.`Institutions move forward by appointing faculty on merit.Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) Chairman Prof Dr Shahid Munir said research work that was designed to meet the needs of the society should be encouraged.

He said our forefathers made a lot of sacrifices to establish Pakistan and now `we have to work together to make it prosperous.

He said for the promotion of higher education, it was necessary to have a faculty development programme and academic freedom should also be ensured.

Appreciating the efforts of organisers of the conference, he said such activities increase the abilities of students.Dr Rafaqat Ali Akbar said it was necessary to develop the higher education sector in order to develop a society or a country.

He said the work of universities was to create new knowledge and provide leadership for the society, but universities were not performing their duties properly.

He said there was a dire need for regulartrainingof teachers.

`We need to give autonomy to the learners. There is a need to transform the traditional teaching system into a system that can develop technical skills among the students,` he said.

Later, souvenirs were presented to the distinguished guests.