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Literacy for Peace: International Literacy Day celebrated with fervor and enthusiasm in Sindh

8 September 2012 - International Literacy Day was celebrated with fervor, zeal and enthusiasm in all parts of Sindh. The main event was organized at Sindh Madressatul Islam University at Karachi, the historic institution where the founder of nation, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah received his early education.

The event was participated by a large number of students, jubilantly dressed up in colorful clothes, highlighting the theme of EFA in their colorful and impressive tableaus. A large number of educationists, teachers and representatives of civil society organizations, media, education department and other stakeholders joined the literacy day celebrations.

Jointly organized by Education & Literacy Department, Govt. of Sindh and UNESCO, the International Literacy Day celebrations were marked by beautiful and colorful tableaus, presentations of cultural gifts, documentary on education and speeches by Educationists, parliamentarians and representatives. Among the notable speakers were Senator Taj Haider, Ms. Sharmila Farooqui, Dr. Muhammad Memon, Anwar Ahmed Zai and Sadeqa Salahudin. Speakers threw light on the importance of education and literacy in creating peace and socio-economic development of the people of province.

Senior Minister, Pir Mazhar-ul-Haq in his speech reiterated his commitment and dedication to education and literacy in Sindh. He said that if in the world there would ever be peace, it would be through literacy. He resolved to keep up his efforts for narrowing the enrollment gap between primary and secondary education. He shared that Government of Sindh is in process of promulgating Right to free and compulsory education through provincial assembly. He said that important progress in this regard has been made. He thanked UNESCO for its commitment and continuous support to the cause of literacy and education in Sindh.

Dr. Roshan Chitrakar, Education Specialist, UNESCO, while reading Director UNESCO Islamabad, Dr. Kozue Kay Nagata's message, emphasized the importance of literacy in building peace in the minds of men and women. He said that literacy is a tool for personal development and social empowerment. He said that literacy rate in rural Sindh is alarmingly low and that more than half or 58% rural population of Sindh is illiterate. He emphasized that constitutional right to education ought to be enforced to block further addition of illiterate youth and adults in the existing lot of illiterate population. He said that we hope that Govt. of Sindh, under its dynamic leadership, will soon take concrete actions in this direction.

When asked about the importance of education, Saira Iqbal, student of class IX, NJV High School, said enthusiastically that she is the only among her four sisters who has studied beyond class V. She said that education has changed her life and now she is determined to convince her parents for her higher education. She said that she want to become a doctor and would serve her people in the best interest of her country and nation.

 Events on International Literacy Day 2012
  Karachi | KPK | Bahawalpur | Lahore | Shaheed Banazirabad |    Balochistan

 Secretary General Message on International Literacy Day
 UNESCO DG Message on International Literacy Day 2012 En | Ur
 UNESCO Islamabad Director's Message En | Ur
 Notes on Literacy and Peace
 Media Monitoring by UNIC
 Radio Programme on ILD, 2012 at Islamabad FM Channels
 Press Clipping
  Business Recorder | Tribune | Daily Times | The Nation | APP