Abbottabad: NWFP Minister for Higher Education Qazi Mohammad Asad has said only three per cent youths have access to facilities of higher education despite the fact that Pakistan is a nuclear power.

He was speaking at the annual prize distribution ceremony of the Government Girls Degree College, Havelian, here on Saturday.

Mr Asad said education played a vital role in socioeconomic uplift, but promotion of the sector had not been made a priority due to which the country could not achieve development goals.

He said the youths had got talent and commitment, particularly female students had proved themselves a step ahead from male students.

Responding to problems and requirements of the college, the minister gave an assurance that all immediate needs of the institute would be fulfilled on priority basis. He said that soon the college would get its own building and it would be upgraded to postgraduate level.

Qazi Asad said the provincial government planned to establish universities in each district, including Abbottabad.

MPA Aurangzeb Nalotha and college principal Prof Naseem Murtaza also spoke on the occasion.

Later, the minister distributed prizes, certificates and commendation certificates among students for their outstanding performance in curricular and co-curricular activities. Dawn