Minister of State for Federal Education and Professional Training Wajiha Qamar on Tuesday informed the National Assembly that the government had launched a comprehensive campaign to address the issue of out-of-school children and learning poverty across the country.
Responding to a Calling Attention Notice moved by MNAs Ibrar Ahmad, Anjum Aqeel Khan, and Malik Shakir Bashir Awan regarding the presence of around 26 million out-of-school children, the minister said the government was implementing targeted interventions through formal and non-formal education sectors.
She said a campaign titled “No Child Left Behind” had been launched in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) in collaboration with the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, the National Commission for Human Development (NCHD), Basic Education Community Schools, and several non-governmental organizations.
Wajiha Qamar informed the House that a door-to-door survey had been initiated in March to identify educational “hotspots” affected by migration, climate-related disruptions, poverty, and lack of access to schools.
She said 36 union councils had been identified, of which surveys in 30 had already been completed, leading to the identification of around 17,000 to 18,000 out-of-school children.
The minister said separate plans had been devised for children aged five to nine years and those aged nine to 16 years, considering the different reasons behind school dropouts and non-enrollment in both age groups.
She said accelerated learning programmes, technical education pathways including Middle Tech and Matric Tech, and recognition of prior learning initiatives were being introduced to equip children with both education and employable skills.
Wajiha Qamar informed the House that the matter had also been discussed during the 38th Inter-Provincial Education Ministers Conference (IPEMC), where provinces shared their respective strategies and plans to tackle out-of-school children according to local dynamics and challenges. Responding to a supplementary question raised by MNA Anjum Aqeel Khan, the minister acknowledged that education data had long remained a challenge, adding that the ministry had established the Institute of Education as a technical arm to improve data protocols and management systems.
She said the ministry had developed an education portal where complete records of enrolled children were maintained, including their addresses, parents’ CNIC numbers, and contact details to ensure proper verification and tracking.
Wajiha Qamar said the system also enabled authorities to track students if they shifted from one school to another, moved to unregistered institutions, or enrolled in seminaries, ensuring continuity of educational records.
The minister informed the House that under the Prime Minister’s directives, an Education Voucher Programme had been launched to support children from financially disadvantaged families who were unable to attend schools.
She said evening classes and accelerated learning programmes had shown encouraging results, while NCHD and other educational institutions had collectively enrolled thousands of children in schools. Minister of State for Federal Education and Professional Training Wajiha Qamar on Tuesday informed the National Assembly that the government was encouraging seminaries (madrassas) across the country, including in Balochistan, to register with the Directorate General of Religious Education (DGRE) in order to facilitate them through modern educational and technical support programmes.
Responding to a Calling Attention Notice moved by MNA Ms. Naeema Kishwer Khan regarding issues being faced by madrassas in Balochistan, the minister said the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training had established the DGRE to assist registered seminaries by providing teachers on stipend, technical education opportunities, and access to contemporary education alongside religious instruction.
She said the initiative aimed to ensure that students studying in madrassas could also benefit from modern disciplines such as technical education, medical sciences, engineering, and information technology, enabling them to pursue broader career opportunities in the future.
Wajiha Qamar said registration with DGRE would be highly beneficial for madrassas in Balochistan as it would help integrate seminary students into the national education framework and provide them access to facilities such as connected classrooms, IT infrastructure, and digital learning initiatives.
Clarifying concerns raised regarding registration requirements under the Balochistan Charity Registration Authority, the minister said the matter did not fall under the jurisdiction of the federal government, the Ministry of Federal Education, or DGRE.
She emphasized that the government deeply acknowledged and appreciated the important role madrassas were playing in imparting education and moral training, particularly in remote areas where access to formal schooling remained limited.
Moreover, the National Assembly on Tuesday witnessed the presentation of eight standing committee reports.
The reports of the committees related to the Ministries of Communications, National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, Defence; National Food Security and Research, and Law and Justice were presented in the House.
Meanwhile, a bill titled “The Polio Eradication and Rehabilitation Bill, 2026” was also introduced to mandate poliomyelitis immunisation, reinforce disease surveillance, safeguard frontline health workers, and ensure the rehabilitation of polio-affected persons.
The National Assembly on Tuesday passed two private members’ bills clause-by-clause with a majority vote.
The bills included “The Islamabad Capital Territory (Prohibition of Plastic Book Covers) Bill, 2026,” moved by Syed Naveed Qamar, to prohibit the use of plastic covers on books sold in the Islamabad Capital Territory.
The House also passed “The Anti-Rape (Investigation and Trial) (Amendment) Bill, 2025,” moved by Nosheen Iftikhar, to amend the Anti-Rape (Investigation and Trial) Act, 2021.