KARACHI: Student enrolment at The Citizens Foundation (TCF) has increased to 343,000 in the 2025-26 academic year, growing from 320,000 the previous year, as the organization continues to expand its educational network across Pakistan.

According to The Citizens Foundation, TCF now operates 2,342 school units nationwide and is supported by a teaching workforce comprising 17,500 women. Since its inception in 1995, a total of 79,400 students have graduated from its schools.

The impact of TCF's work is exemplified by the achievements of its graduates. One such graduate, Kulsoom Afzal from Lasbela, Balochistan, returned to education in Grade 5 after facing financial difficulties. She went on to achieve the highest marks in her district in the Intermediate examinations and is now among Lasbela's first female civil engineers, currently pursuing a master's degree at NED University.

In Nowshera, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, another TCF graduate, Mohammad Owais Khan, merged his interest in technology with entrepreneurship. With scholarship support from TCF, he enrolled at Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan to study Computer Science. While studying, he founded Xora Solutions, an IT company that has grown into a team of eight, providing employment in his hometown.

Zia Akhter Abbas, TCF President and CEO, emphasized that the organization's success should be measured not only by the number of students enrolled but also by their post-graduation achievements. Abbas noted the importance of students continuing to learn, making informed choices, supporting themselves and their families, and contributing positively to their communities.

In addition to formal education, TCF's Aagahi Adult Literacy Programme has reached 337,000 learners, primarily women who missed the opportunity to attend school earlier in life. Since its founding by a group of citizens in 1995, TCF has focused on establishing schools in underserved rural and urban communities across Pakistan, with girls making up nearly half of its student enrolment.

As it marks its 31st year, TCF remains committed to expanding educational access and creating opportunities for individuals to contribute to their families and communities through education.