India has contributed immensely to the growth of Afghanistan youth, said Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai at Phagwara on Monday.
Receiving the Lovely Professional University’s first honoris causa degree (Doctorate in Social Sciences) from his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee at the university’s third convocation, Karzai said: “Many students from Afghanistan have been studying in India and I expect many more will come here to get higher education in future.”
“India has given over 2,000 scholarships to Afghanistan students to help them study here, has shared healthy relations with us and has contributed immensely to Afghan youth,” he said.
“You are the citizens of India and citizens of the world and you represent a country that is fast rising in economical, industrial and social growth. Your presence is felt all around. Keep progressing and at the same time, remember your culture and use your energies for the country’s welfare,” he told the attending students.
He also expressed gratitude to the LPU for conferring a honorary doctorate degree upon him.
In his keynote address, Pranab called upon the universities in the country to lay due emphasis on imparting vocational training to the youth.
He said India has been adding 1.2 crore people to the workforce each year and about two-thirds of world’s workforce would be from the country by 2020. “It is our responsibility to convert this manpower into productive hands,” the President said. Pranab said at present only seven per cent of India’s workforce was getting skill development or vocational training. He also called upon each university to set up a centre of excellence.