LAHORE: Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal has said that research and innovation have become the basic currency of the time. Addressing the foundation-stone laying ceremony of a new academic block, girls’ hostel and student service area at the Kala Shah Kaku campus of the University of Health Sciences (UHS) on Saturday, the minister said that the incumbent government was using its position for economic cooperation. He said that Pakistan, previously known for terrorism, was now being recognised as an emerging economy. He said that many countries had expressed their interest in becoming part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). “We must put our country on the road to prosperity with active participation of ally and sundry. Higher Education Commission (HEC) Chairman Prof Dr Mukhtar Ahmad, UHS Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Junaid Sarfaraz Khan, researchers, scientists, faculty members and a large number of students were present. Ahsan Iqbal said that universities should be linked with real economy to shape up true knowledge economy. He said that the government was striving to bring Pakistan among top 25 economies of the world under the Vision-2025. He said the country would have 20,000 PhDs in the next ten years and 10,000 PhDs would be produced under the US-Pak Knowledge Corridor project. “It is our responsibility to equip our youth with knowledge and skills.” Speaking on the occasion, UHS Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Junaid Sarfraz Khan said that new buildings would be constructed with a total outlay of Rs.813 million under HEC Strengthening of Academic Research Facilities project by July next year. Once completed, he said that the university would start bachelors and master degree programs in special education, BSc, MSc and PhD in allied health sciences, certificate in pre-hospital emergency medicine, programmes in public health, field epidemiology and community outreach, sports and rehabilitation medicine among others.