Islamabad: Iqbal Hashmi of the Pasban Democratic Party labeled the absence of school for 2.5 million children in the nation as a “national tragedy” and criticized the current state of public education infrastructure and funding. The Party argues that the education system’s deficiencies reflect a broader governmental neglect, impacting the country’s literacy rates and future development.

According to Pasban Democratic Party, the government’s allocation for education suggests a lack of interest in fostering a well-educated populace. They highlighted the severe lack of basic amenities in government schools and pointed out that the substandard intellectual and practical training received by children working in workshops and teahouses fails to prepare them to be productive citizens. Furthermore, the party criticized the disparity in educational opportunities between the children of the affluent, who attend top institutions both locally and abroad, and those of ordinary citizens, who struggle to access even basic education.

The statement also compared Pakistan’s literacy rates unfavorably with neighboring countries like China and Bangladesh, underscoring the urgent need for reform. The Pasban Democratic Party vowed to prioritize education reform, advocating for improved monitoring of education departments to combat corruption and inefficiency. They call for a reassessment of budget priorities, suggesting that funds used for subsidies could instead be directed towards vital sectors like education to truly enhance the nation’s competitiveness and sustainability.