Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan, Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman, has said that 26.2 million children are out of school in Pakistan and 5.5 million alone in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
He emphasised the importance of implementing educational reforms through a unified curriculum and language across the country to foster unity and equality within the nation.
He expressed these views while addressing the graduation convocation of 1,200 young boys and girls from the Malakand Division, held at Wadudi Hall in Saidu Sharif under the “Bano Qabil Program.” The event was attended by a significant number of central and regional leaders from Jamaat-e-Islami and the Al-Khidmat Foundation, including Syed Waqas Anjum Jafri, Central General Secretary of Al-Khidmat Foundation Pakistan; Inayatullah Khan, Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Khyber Pakhtunkhwa North; General Secretary Muhammad Haleem Bacha, President of Al-Khidmat Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; Fazal Mahmood, General Secretary; Dr. Khalid Farooq, Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Swat Hameed-ul-Haq, President of Al-Khidmat Foundation Swat; Ziaullah Khan, and former MNA Ayesha Syed.
Hafiz Naeem highlighted that currently, 26.2 million children in Pakistan are out of school, with 5.5 million in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa alone. He criticised the government for outsourcing education, neglecting the construction of new schools, and allowing existing institutions to fall into disrepair, which he sees as evidence of governmental failure. He stated, “Despite an education budget of Rs 363 billion in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, government educational institutions are in a state of ruin and are now being outsourced, indicating a clear move towards the privatisation of education.” He asserted that education is not a charity but a constitutional and fundamental right for the nation that cannot be taken away.
He pointed out that while the state collects taxes, it fails to provide employment or security.
He criticised political parties for concentrating on increasing their privileges and salaries while the populace faces poverty, inflation, and unemployment, with 44 per cent of the population living below the poverty line. Hafiz Naeem described the “Bano Qabil Program” as a revolutionary step towards empowering the youth, pledging to provide IT education to one million young people within the next two years, regardless of governmental support. He also announced initiatives to empower housewives through skill development, enabling them to gain respectable employment and contribute actively to the economy.
Regarding the energy crisis, Hafiz Naeem stated that since 1994, all rulers have engaged in corrupt agreements with Independent Power Producers (IPPs). He lamented that the nation spends Rs 1,500 billion annually on these private power plants while they fail to deliver adequate electricity, which he considers a significant national tragedy.
He expressed a vision for the IT sector to become a cornerstone of the national economy, asserting that with the right government policies, Pakistan could generate up to $1,500 billion yearly from this sector. After his speech, Hafiz Naeem announced his plans to return to Swat on August 31 to further develop the skills of the youth. He urged the youth to recognise that change won’t come merely through slogans; they must support Jamaat-e-Islami to help uproot the existing system.
During the ceremony, laptops were awarded to 15 students who excelled in their studies, as a means of encouraging their academic success.
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