Like other parts of the globe, the World Literacy Day is being marked on Thursday (today) in Pakistan with a firm resolve to continue efforts for stamping out illiteracy through education to all. Both the public and private sectors have planned events to mark the day where speakers would highlight the importance of the day.
The Punjab University, in collaboration with the Rotary Club, is organising an event with leading speakers including Education Minister Punjab Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, Punjab University VC Dr Mujahid Kamran, LCWU VC Dr Uzma Qureshi, Director General Higher Education Commission Punjab Dr Shahid Sroya, Director General Punjab Libraries Dr Zahir-ud-Din Babar, President Rotary Club of Lahore Canal Syed Shahbaz Bukhari and others. Meanwhile, the National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) has set a target of educating 57 million illiterates including 24 million out of school children.
The Commission spokesman said "Achieving 100% literacy rate is a mission of the government". He said the NCHD had educated 3.84 million individuals through 164,190 adult literacy centers and non formal schools, out of which 90 percent are women.