PM Urges Federal-Provincial Cooperation to Tackle Out-of-School Children

Strong coordination between the federal and

provincial governments need to tackle the challenge

of enrolling 22.8 million out-of-school children

Associated Press of Pakistan

Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized the importance of strong coordination between the federal and provincial governments to tackle the challenge of enrolling 22.8 million out-of-school children as part of the newly launched Education Emergency. In his televised opening remarks at the federal cabinet meeting, the prime minister stressed the need for aggressive collaboration between the federal and provincial governments to address the issue, especially as most of these children are girls.

Enhancing Coordination in Education Sector

PM Shehbaz directed the federal education minister to enhance coordination with provincial authorities to accelerate efforts in addressing the education crisis. He lauded the federal education minister and secretary for organizing an international conference on girls’ education in the Muslim world, which brought together education ministers, experts, and organizations to engage in meaningful discussions.

Successful International Conference on Girls’ Education

The conference, which included participants such as the OIC Secretary General, Saudi delegation, and education ministers from various Muslim countries, was hailed as a great success. PM Shehbaz commended the efforts made to advance girls’ education and promote informed discourse on the issue.

PIA Flight Operations to Paris Resume

PM Shehbaz also congratulated the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) for resuming its flight operations to Paris, describing it as a significant achievement. He expressed regret over the economic losses and flight restrictions caused by unfounded statements made by the previous PTI government’s aviation minister but welcomed the resumption of operations. The prime minister expressed hope for further expansion of PIA’s network, including potential flights to London.

New Pak-Iran Border Crossing to Curb Smuggling and Promote Trade

The prime minister also discussed the new Pak-Iran border crossing in Panjgur, thanking the Government of Iran for its cooperation. He highlighted that this initiative would help curb smuggling and facilitate legal trade between the two neighboring countries.

Security and Anti-Terrorism Efforts

Commenting on the situation in Kurram, PM Shehbaz noted improvements, including the removal of earlier security checkpoints and the resumption of essential supplies. He praised the armed forces for their ongoing efforts against terrorism, specifically targeting terrorist groups like Fitna Al Khawarij. The prime minister announced that in a recent intelligence-based operation (IBO), 27 terrorists were eliminated, with more operations ongoing across the country.

Energy Sector Resilience Plans

PM Shehbaz concluded by stating that the national task force focused on transforming the energy sector was making significant progress. The task force is working on an extensive roadmap aimed at strengthening the resilience of Pakistan’s energy sector.