Parliamentary Secretary for Information and Broadcasting, Barrister Danyal Chaudhry, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to inclusive, child-centred education at a roundtable hosted by Cities for Children and supported by the Malala Fund. The event, titled “Inspired Education: Investing in Creative Strategies to Reduce Dropout,” brought together policymakers, practitioners, and development partners to explore practical solutions for ensuring children not only access education but stay and thrive within it.
Speaking as Chief Guest alongside MNA Ms. Shaista Pervez Malik, Convenor of the SDGs Secretariat, and Parliamentary Secretary for Education Ms. Rabia Naseem Farooqi, Barrister Danyal highlighted a range of impactful initiatives underway in his constituency, NA-57, which align with the broader education agenda led by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif. He emphasized that education must go beyond enrollment to create safe, supportive environments where every child can succeed.
Barrister Danyal outlined that in NA-57, a campaign to enroll out-of-school children has set a target of 39,000 for FY 2026, with 5,000 children already enrolled within weeks. Infrastructure development includes PKR 205 million allocated for school facilities, while technology integration has seen the establishment of 33 Matric-Tech Schools, 29 computer labs, and upgraded labs in 434 high schools and 10 elementary schools. He further noted that four girls’ schools now offer makeup and designing classes to promote skill development, while teacher quality is being enhanced through the Easte English teacher training project. Rawalpindi Division’s top performance in a provincial STEAM competition reflects the success of hands-on learning. In a landmark inclusion effort, two district schools for transgender students have been established with 100 enrolled, while an early morning school setup serves children engaged in agricultural work. Additionally, 100 schools are being solarized, 20 have been digitalized in partnership with the DIL Foundation, and the Government Girls Higher Secondary School in Dheri Hassanabad has been developed as a state-of-the-art facility.
The roundtable discussion, featuring representatives from the education ministry, non-formal sector, BISP, and JICA, emphasized that improving access must go hand in hand with improving children’s experiences in school through playful learning, socio-emotional development, and positive discipline. Participants also underscored the need for gender-responsive strategies that build girls’ confidence and sense of belonging.
Barrister Danyal placed these efforts within the Punjab government’s wider education agenda under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, which includes School on Wheels and Library on Wheels mobile units, the Honhaar Scholarship Program supporting over 25,000 students annually, laptop and IT hub schemes across the province, a school nutrition program, transport buses for 60 women’s colleges, and 28 Centres of Excellence for special students offering therapy and vocational training.
