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Summary President said that government was according high priority to the promotion of education.
President Asif Ali Zardari today launched “Waseela-e-Taleem” initiative under the umbrella of Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) whereby over three million children of the poor families of the country would be provided financial assistance for enrolling them in primary schools in next four years.Addressing a special ceremony to launch the “Waseela-e-Taleem” initiative at the Aiwan–e-Sadr, the President said that government was according high priority to the promotion of education as no country can make any progress without investing in its human capital.He said that we firmly believe that ignorance and poverty go hand in hand, adding that poverty combined with ignorance fuels militancy and extremism. “We must fight against ignorance to fight poverty and militancy”, he said.The President said that Waseela-e-Taleem Programmeme lays solid foundation for brighter future of the poor children of the country. Appreciating BISP, the President also thanked the international community especially DFID, World Bank and international development partners including UK, China and Turkey for their support in promoting education in Pakistan.He said that BISP was the flagship Programme of the present government for poverty alleviation and women empowerment and expressed satisfaction that the Programme was developing into a comprehensive social safety net.The President on the occasion reiterated country’s commitment to achieve the goal of Universal Primary Education and said that a result of Constitutional Amendment it was now included in the fundamental rights.The ceremony was attended among others by former Prime Minister of UK and United Nations Special Envoy on Global Education Mr. Gordon Brown, President and Prime Minister of AJK, Governor Gilgit-Baltistan, Federal Ministers, Parliamentarians, representative of the donor organizations and beneficiaries of BISP.Addressing the gathering Mr. Gordon Brown thanked the President for inviting him to Pakistan and also lauded his leadership and vision for the promotion of education in the country.In his remarks he said that today’s launch of a special Programme that targets children education was a measure of determination of the Government and its leadership to promote education and to safeguard the future of the youth and the coming generations.He assured that he would continue his efforts assisting the Government of Pakistan in all possible manners in the promotion of education in the country.On this occasion, Mr. Gordon Brown also presented to the President a petition carrying one million signatures of the people across the world to show solidarity with Ms. Malala Yousafzai. The President also signed the petition during the ceremony.Federal Minister and Chairperson BISP Ms. Farzana Raja and Federal Minister Sheikh Waqas Akram also spoke on the occasion.
