Abu Khaldoon
Islamabad: After Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif declared an “Educational Emergency”, Muslim Hands took the lead in organizing a “National Conference on Street Children” in Islamabad. The organization has pledged to enroll half a million children in schools over the next five years. The consultation brings together several stakeholders to address the critical issue of out-of-school children and develop strategies for their reintegration into the education system.
Rana Mashud Ahmed Khan, Head of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, who gave the keynote speech at the closing meeting, emphasized the urgency of the situation and drew attention to the alarming statistic of 26 million children out of school in Pakistan. He said the Prime Minister has declared an Education Emergency to address this critical issue, adding that youth issues remain a priority for the Prime Minister.
Syed Javed Gillani, Executive Director of Muslim Hands, shared major achievements including enrolling and educating more than 200,000 children at a total cost of $85 million to Pakistan’s education sector. Muslim Hands has demonstrated its contribution to capacity building through public-private partnerships with major funders, institutional donors, and federal and provincial governments. He appreciated the government’s efforts in this regard and affirmed Muslim Hands’ commitment to the cause.
Mr. Gillani also said that Muslim Hands, in collaboration with the government and other organizational partners, will register and retain half a million out-of-school children during the next five years.
The two-day conference shows success stories through documentaries and short videos, showcasing initiatives such as Sports Development, long-standing success for walking and out-of-school children.
