Member National Assembly Mohammad Hanif Abbasi while addressing a seminar entitled ‘ Education Emergency and our Responsibilities’ organized by Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry has said that education plays an important role in the development of individuals as well as of society at large and no development is possible without skilled and trained human resources. He added that Character building is one of the main traits of education, so the virtues like honesty, truthfulness, impartiality and empathy should be inculcated among the students through the education process.

He said that around 26 million children are out-of-school and it is our prime responsibility to enroll them and make them useful citizens not only for their families but for the country by imparting education and instilling skill development. He added that improvement in the teachers’ skills level is equally important for obtaining the objective and enhancing the literacy level for the development of the country.

He said that sitting Prime Minister Mohammad Shehbaz Sharif is the first ever Prime Minister who is taking keen interest in enhancing the literacy level and in induction of out of school children to make them valuable asset of the country. President Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari while paying glowing tributes to Prime Minister Mohammad Shehbaz Sharif for taking initiative for out of school children to make them beneficial individuals instead of becoming burden on the society.

He demanded that the Government must allow the commencement of evening classes in mosques, chamber houses, and community halls for the children whose parents are unable to bear the expenses of education, adding that in this way we can usher a revolution in the society by enhancing literacy rate as well as skill development.

Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari said that ICCI is already working for the cause and that it has inked a number of MoUs with the Universities for the promotion of Industry-Academia linkages, it is providing grants for construction of study rooms in schools and colleges, providing water filtration plants, computers, laboratory equipment etc.

He added that doors of Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry are open for this noble cause and that it will extend every possible support to the education ministry as well as the NGOs working on it.

Secretary General United Business Group said Zafar Bakhtawari said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is a visionary leader who has not only enforced the education emergency but has also given a framework of 4 years to achieve the target. He said that Prime Minister is also determined to enhance the education budget from 0.5% to 5% of the total layout which will definitely make a difference in enhancing the literacy level in the country.

He said that ICCI will extend every possible support to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his team in achieving the milestone.

Highlighting the significance of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s initiative Dr. Muhammad Mukhtar, Vice Chancellor National Skills University, Islamabad said that his University is giving opportunity to everybody to enter and equip himself with necessary skills to earn livelihood in respectable manners. He said that his University is ready to work with ICCI for imparting technical training to students who after matriculation fail to continue their education.

Dr. Syeda Zia Batool, Chairperson, Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority affirmed that PIERA is whole heartedly working for the cause and that it is already registering non-formal schools for the purpose to achieve the goal.

Senator (R) Mian Atiq-ur- Rehman commended ICCI for organizing the seminar on this important national issue by saying that each and every individual has to enter the digital world by equipping himself with IT skills for the economic betterment of the country.

Bilal Aziz , Programme Specialist( Youth and Audit Literacy) JICA presented facts and figures about out of school children throughout Pakistan by saying that most of the children belonging to Islamabad have already been enrolled and the rest will be enrolled by the end of 2025.

Asma Malik, CEO Lift Foundation described that how out of school children can be enrolled in informal schools to impart them education and latest skills to make them productive individuals.

Faculty members and students from different Universities, civil society members, stakeholders and ICCI executive members attended the seminar in large number including convener ICCI Committee on HEC Adnan Mukhtar, Ms. Uzma Mukhtar and Arooj Malik.