ISLAMABAD (HRNW) Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday declared an education emergency across Pakistan to enroll around 26 million out-of-school children and promote literacy to make the country regain its lost space and develop it as one of the most educated societies in the world.
“Today, with iron conviction, and the support of provinces, we will handle the challenge of 26 million out-of-school children. We will bring them back to school. I declare from this moment an Emergency in Education all over Pakistan,” the prime minister said while addressing a National Conference on Education Emergency held here.
He told the gathering of federal ministers, parliamentarians, vice-chancellors, diplomats, and development partners that he would personally supervise the program and meet all the chief ministers, setting aside political affiliations, with a vision to march in unison, expressing the hope that the provinces too would extend their support.
“This is about our children and our future… This is a very challenging task, no doubt. But nations which had faced difficulties and defeat in the past arose from the ashes of defeat. Germany and Japan are the examples. Why can’t Pakistan be? I guarantee, if we move in unison to find our space, Pakistan will become one of the most educated societies one day soon,” he remarked.
PM Shehbaz recounting the achievements of the Punjab government during his chief ministership highlighted the boosted enrollment rates, especially for girls, through initiatives like the Zevar Taleem Program, and rescuing 90,000 boys from brick kilns to send them to schools.
He also mentioned outsourcing of 10,000 poorly performing schools to improve education quality and established Daanish School which offered free high-quality education and boarding for underprivileged children. The Punjab Education Endowment Fund provided scholarships to hundreds of thousands of deserving students based on merit.
PM Shehbaz said the enrollment of 26 million out-of-school children and stunted growth were major challenges facing Pakistan which required huge financial resources. “But the real challenge is the will to do,” he commented and recalled Pakistan’s manifestation of the commitment to become a nuclear power despite international pressures, and eliminating terrorism by sacrificing around 80,000 lives to establish peace in the country as well as the globe.