AsiaNet-Pakistan Premier Editorial Content and Press Release Distribution Service
Islamabad, September 08, 2012 (PPI-OT): Pakistan joins the world community in celebrating the International Literacy Day. The Day draws our attention to the imperative of increasing literacy in the country besides reminding us of our responsibility to revisit national educational policies.
Literacy, which is the foundation of learning, is a key to build bridges among different cultures, civilizations and societies as it allows people an opportunity to have a better understanding.
Literacy helps build a tolerant and inclusive society where people and communities, despite belonging to different backgrounds, are bound into a unified whole, given their shared stakes in future.
I believe that selection of this year’s theme i.e. Literacy and Peace is most appropriate as it highlights the importance of literacy in eliminating conflicts and achieving durable peace.
I have no doubt that unless a nation focuses on increasing its literacy rate, it cannot achieve socio-economic development on sustainable basis. Investing in people’s education is investment in future economic development of a society.
In today’s evolving world, which is fast becoming multi-polar both in economic and political terms, knowledge has come to be identified as a single factor responsible for determining a country’s place in the comity of nations. Hence, all efforts need to be afoot to make our society knowledge-based.
Literacy is a fundamental human right. It is a tool, which not only empowers individuals but also plays a significant role in alleviating poverty, reducing child mortality, checking population growth and making economic development equitable.
Literacy also provides a foundation upon which the edifice of a sustainable democracy is erected as it empowers people to participate in the decision-making processes, and shape their future by making informed choices.
Under the 18th Constitutional Amendment, education has been devolved to the federating units thereby empowering the provincial governments to politically and administratively spearhead pro-literacy initiatives in a concerted manner. The federal government is ready to extend every possible assistance to the provinces.
For the first time in the country’s history, free education to students from 5 to 16 years of age has been made a fundamental and constitutional right, thereby obligating the government to provide free and compulsory education to its people.
Let us pledge to redouble our efforts to make Pakistan a hub of education and enlightenment by working on pro-literacy initiatives. It is our obligation to the coming generations. Let them not say that we were not equal to the task.
For more information, contact:
Haji Ahmed Malik
Principal Information Officer
Press Information Department (PID)
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