Speakers at a conference at Punjab University have stressed upon the need to promote non-formal education to increase literacy rate in the country. The conference was organised by Education for All Federation, Literacy and Non-Formal Basic Education Department here on Tuesday.
Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab Rana Ikram Rabbani, President EFA Federation Colonel Ikram Ullah Khan (Retd), Secretary Literacy Dr Pervaiz Ahmed Khan, former chairman Tevta Khalid Mahmood, Acting Director PU Institute of Education and Research Professor Dr Abid Hussain, former caretaker CM Mian Afzal Hayyat, former Justice Faqir Muhammad Khokhar, Lieutenant General Naseer Akhter (Retd), Lieutenant General Afzal Mujeeb (Retd), Major General Khawaja Rahat Latif (Retd), Saeed uddin Qazi, officials from Literacy department, representatives from various NGOs and people from various walks of life were present on the occasion.
While addressing the ceremony, Rana Ikram Rabbani said that the rulers must be aware of the basic rights of the citizens and education could guarantee prosperous Pakistan in future. Secretary Literacy Dr Pervaiz Ahmed Khan has said that only formal education could not guarantee solution of all educational problems but we must promote non-formal education as well.
He said that government had launched several initiatives to improve literacy rate in the province. He said that the government had set up various institutes to offer technical, non-formal and adult education. Former chairman Tevta Khalid Mahmood said that our society had scattered and disintegrated because of lack of education and unemployment. He said that following the instructions of Father of the Nation Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, we must promote technical education at school level. EFA President Colonel Ikram Ullah Khan (Retd) said that the country is facing several critical crises and under these circumstances, the initiatives taken by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif are commendable.