Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif highlighted the alarming issue of educational disparity in the country, revealing that more than 22 million children, aged between 5 and 16, are not attending school. The overwhelming majority of these children are girls, Sharif noted during his speech at the opening of the two-day ‘International Conference on Girls’ Education in Muslim Communities: Challenges and Opportunities’ held in Islamabad on Saturday.
Sharif expressed deep concern over the barriers that Muslim nations face in providing equal access to education for girls. He stressed the urgent need for countries, particularly in the Muslim world, to prioritize education for girls, citing the significant role they can play in the economic and social development of their communities.
In his address, Sharif emphasized the critical role of girls in the workforce, as many are poised to join in the coming decade. He underlined that empowering young girls with education would help lift not only themselves but also their families out of poverty, contributing positively to the global economy.
Despite women representing over half of Pakistan’s population, Sharif pointed out the concerning figure of just 49 percent female literacy in the country. This disparity, he remarked, was exacerbated by the fact that millions of girls continue to miss out on education. Sharif made it clear that denying education to girls was essentially denying them their voice and potential, which deprives them of a brighter future.
The event saw the participation of notable figures, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai. Malala, an advocate for girls’ education, shared her excitement about joining world leaders to address the importance of protecting girls’ rights to education. She also expressed her determination to hold the Taliban accountable for their treatment of Afghan women and girls, particularly regarding their access to education.
On social media, Malala wrote, “I am excited to join Muslim leaders from around the world for a critical conference on girls’ education. On Sunday, I will speak about protecting rights for all girls to go to school and why leaders must hold the Taliban accountable for their crimes against Afghan women & girls.”
The conference aims to foster collaboration among Muslim-majority nations to empower girls through education. It will conclude with the signing of the Islamabad Declaration, a commitment by these nations to collectively advance girls’ education and present this declaration to the UN, including the UN Security Council, as a unified goal for the global Muslim community, or Ummah.
Additionally, representatives from various countries will sign an International Partnership Agreement, reaffirming their shared commitment to the advancement of girls’ education worldwide.
The Pakistan Foreign Office also highlighted the significance of this agreement, noting that it reflects the commitment of Muslim countries to address the educational disparities faced by girls and to work together for their empowerment. The global push for girls’ education is expected to gain momentum as world leaders unite for this critical cause.
Sources By Agencies
