ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that improving the national literacy rate was the joint responsibility of both the government and society and stressed for coordinated efforts to improve the literacy rate of the country.\ In view of the International Literacy Day which was observed on September 8 across the world, the PPP Chairman highlighted the need for improvement in literacy and skills development and said that everyone has to play his role for developing a literate, progressive, peaceful and prosperous society to enable the humanity to face the future challenges of ignorance, illiteracy and intolerance. Bilawal pointed out that though in the official figures Pakistan had 58% literacy rate but several experts disagree and emphasize for integrated and fair estimates to plan real growth in the literacy rate. The PPP Chairman further stated that the Sindh government has allocated 27% of its budget for the education sector adding that he was hopeful and confident to see visible improvements in the education sector as well as literacy rate in the province in next few years. Published in Daily Times, September 9th 2018.