The Citizens Foundation (TCF) has reported that student enrolment across its school network has reached 343,000, up from 320,000 a year earlier. Its graduates are pursuing higher education, entering professional careers and establishing businesses in communities across Pakistan.
According to the foundation’s latest figures for 2025–26, TCF operates 2,342 school units nationwide, supported by a teaching faculty of 17,500 women. Since its establishment in 1995, the organisation has graduated 79,400 students.
Behind these figures are graduates whose achievements demonstrate how education can open doors to new opportunities and enable individuals to contribute to their communities.
Graduates Turn Education into Opportunities
In Lasbela, Balochistan, Kulsoom Afzal had to interrupt her education because of financial difficulties. She resumed her studies in Grade 5 at a TCF school and went on to secure the highest marks in her district in the Intermediate examinations.
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Today, Kulsoom is among the first female civil engineers from Lasbela. She is also pursuing a master’s degree at NED University. Her progress marks a significant achievement in a district where few women had previously entered the engineering profession.
In Nowshera, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Mohammad Owais Khan has taken a different route. After completing his Intermediate education in Computer Science, he began developing his digital skills while working towards his ambitions.
With scholarship support from TCF, Owais enrolled at Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan to pursue a degree in Computer Science.
Alongside his studies, he established Xora Solutions, an information technology company in his hometown. The business has since expanded to a team of eight, creating employment and learning opportunities for others in the community.
Their journeys reflect TCF’s approach to education: equipping young people with the knowledge and skills to build independent lives and make meaningful contributions to society.
TCF Emphasises Long-Term Impact of Education
Speaking about the foundation’s approach, TCF President and CEO Zia Akhter Abbas said:
“Enrolment tells us how many children we reach. What matters just as much is what they go on to do with that education. We want our students to keep learning, make informed choices, support themselves and their families, and contribute positively to their communities.”
Adult Literacy Programme Reaches 337,000 Learners
TCF’s work extends beyond formal schooling through its Aagahi Adult Literacy Programme, which has reached 337,000 learners. The programme primarily supports women who missed the opportunity to attend school earlier in life.
It helps participants develop basic literacy and numeracy skills, enabling them to become more independent in their everyday lives.
Three Decades of Expanding Educational Access
Founded by a group of citizens in 1995, TCF has grown into one of Pakistan’s largest education initiatives, supported by teachers, families, volunteers and donors across the country and beyond.
Its schools operate in underserved rural and urban communities, with girls accounting for nearly half of total student enrolment.
As TCF enters its 31st year, its focus extends beyond providing access to schools to creating opportunities that continue throughout an individual’s life.
For graduates such as Kulsoom and Owais, education has become a foundation for further studies, professional careers, family support and opportunities for others in their communities.
