PESHAWAR: Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra Tuesday said that knowledge and research were key to development and the government was committed to promoting higher education. He was speaking at the 20th meeting of the Board of Governors of the Institute of Management Sciences at the Governor’s House here. The governor, who is also chairman of the board, stated that indeed a market demand-based strategy could be the best option in making the institution goal-oriented in real terms, said a handout. Beside others, special assistant to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister for Higher Education Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani, Principal Secretary to Governor Sikandar Qayyum, secretary finance, president chamber of commerce, Director IM Sciences Muhammad Mohsin Khan and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Peshawar also attended the meeting. The board was informed that the institute has 42 PhD faculty members including 28 PhD scholars. Teaching staff of the institute will be doubled after the completion of the degrees of the PhD scholars. The meeting was further informed that the institute is taking advantage of linkages with institutions of international repute including four UK-based universities. Addressing the meeting, the governor said that all-out efforts were being made to provide better educational facilities to the youth. He emphasised that higher education institutions should focus on research adding that research-based education was the key to success. The BoD also approved the budget for the year 2015-16.