Shehbaz Sharif urges collaboration to address out-of-school children crisis

In Islamabad, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized the need for collaboration between the federal and provincial governments to tackle the alarming rate of out-of-school children, currently estimated at 22.8 million. In a federal cabinet meeting, he urged that education, being a devolved subject, requires aggressive cooperation from the Centre with provincial administrations to effectively address this educational emergency, particularly as a majority of these children are girls. The Prime Minister also acknowledged the successful organization of an international conference dedicated to girls' education in the Muslim world. In addition to addressing the educational crisis, PM Shehbaz reported on various developments in the IT and aviation sectors. He highlighted the resumption of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flights to Europe, which are seen as a major achievement following previous restrictions that resulted from misguided statements by former aviation ministers during the PTI government era. The Prime Minister is optimistic about expanding PIA’s flight routes, notably to London, as efforts are ongoing to recover from prior economic losses. The Prime Minister directed authorities to simplify regulations that affect broadband service expansion via fiber optics and pledged to further enhance IT exports, aiming for a target of $25 billion within the next five years. Furthermore, an initiative will be launched to increase the number of freelancers in the IT sector from 1.4 million to 2 million over the next two years. This development reflects the government's intent to provide youth with training aligned with international standards, facilitating employment opportunities domestically and abroad. Lastly, Shehbaz Sharif expressed gratitude towards Iran for establishing a new border crossing, which is expected to combat smuggling while encouraging lawful trade between Pakistan and Iran. He also reported ongoing anti-terror operations in the country, shedding light on recent successes, including the elimination of 27 terrorists. Sharif’s multi-faceted approach to governance highlights the interconnected nature of education, economic growth, and national security in Pakistan, as the government strives to create a more prosperous and educated future for its citizens.