Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif declares education emergency on International Literacy Day

Pakistan declares education emergency on International Literacy Day to educate 26 million out-of-school children

Pakistan on Sunday (September 8, 2024) declared an education emergency on International Literacy Day to educate around 26 million out-of-school children in the country.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the measure and urged the private sector and civil organisations to join hands with the government, the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan reported.

The 72-year-old Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader reaffirmed his commitment to advancing the education agenda, striving for a more informed and sustainable nation.

“We have declared an educational emergency across the country, launched an enrolment campaign for students and initiated midday meals for children in schools,” he stated.

He said that literacy is a fundamental human and constitutional right that guarantees the future of our country and added that literacy was not merely the ability to read and write but rather a “gateway to empowerment, economic opportunities and active participation in society”.

Also read: Over 22 million Pak children out of schools: Dawn report

To reduce the dropout rate and encourage every child to complete their education, the prime minister pointed out that the government had introduced scholarships and other incentives.