Punjab Governor Lieutenant General Khalid Maqbool (Retd), Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, Higher Education Commission Chairman Dr Atta-ur-Rehman, provincial Education Minister Imran Masud and a large number of students were present on the occasion.
He said that the country's dependence should not be on any single country. The president said that the time has come to put words into action. "This would have an healthy effect on our society," he said.
Musharraf said that it was unfortunate that the country lacked policy goals and strategy, adding that his government evolved the same for development purposes and is moving ahead honourably.
The president said we have our own system of values and tradition. "The country needs moderation and not westernisation," he added.
Musharraf emphasised upon the need to recognise an authority in the best interest of arriving at a goal of national solidarity. He said that this could be done despite having divergent thoughts and views.
He advised the political parties not to get students involved in politics in the educational institutions.
Highlighting new health and educational projects, he said that there was special emphasis on technical education. "We are very low in literacy rate in the comity of nations and it was our earnest goal to enhance this for the purpose of moving ahead in the world fraternity, he added.
Talking about dearth of white-collar jobs in the country, he said that if one has talent than there was ample openings available here too. "In order to enhance education level, the Higher Education Commission is making sincere efforts," he said.
Speaking about one million children studying in Madressah, he said that the government was endeavouring to bring them in the mainstream. "It is not necessary that one that studies in Madressah only becomes a Khateeb, opportunity must be provided to him for becoming an engineer, doctor and a scientist too. Effort in this connection at the government level were taking place," he added.
The president said that the education sector had been badly neglected and had deteriorated in the past, with a paltry sum of Rs 800 million only earmarked for its development just five years ago, while even this amount had nothing to show in uplift of the sector, he added.
"Our government has enhanced the allocation in education sector to Rs 9.1 billion," he said.
In non-development side educational grant that stood at Rs 800 million in 1999 with 34 percent increase has been raised to Rs 34 billion at present. There would be 50 percent increase in this amount per annum, he added.
Talking about development in science and technology sector, he said that Rs 8 billion have been allocated for that purpose.
On the foreign policy, he said, adhering to the ground realities, efforts were already made to improve our relations with other Muslim countries. "With our very good relations with China, relations with Russia and Central Asian States were being strengthened," he added.
The president said that our approach in getting loans earlier from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was now different from previous practice. "With the change of our financial stature, instead of being takers, we should be givers now," he added.
He said that Pakistan being our identity would be strengthened because of internal stability and this would improve the country's image abroad.
Talking about 70 percent natural resources possessed by the Muslim countries, he said that unfortunately despite this fact there were only 600 universities established within the Muslim world, while in Japan only there were 1,000 universities."
He said that steps were being taken to reorganise the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC).
President Musharraf said that the knowledge of English language was on the rise across the world. "Even the people in China are striving to learn this language," he said.
He recalled that social reformer and educationist like Sir Syed Ahmed Khan had also exhorted the Muslims to learn English language. The people of Pakistan, although good in Urdu, should also give due attention to learning English language.
Stressing upon the need to give shelter and security to the rights of minorities, he hoped that they would be able to give a better Pakistan to the new generations.