LAHORE: In a recent session of the Punjab Assembly, Member of the Provincial Assembly (MPA) Ahsan Raza made a startling revelation that there are 1.6 million illiterate people in Punjab, with District Kasur having the highest number.
During the session, Raza raised an important question: “Who will take responsibility for providing basic education to the large illiterate population in Kasur?”
Raza urged that, rather than shutting down the Department of Literacy and Non-Formal Basic Education, the government should expand its efforts. He argued that literacy should be defined as the basic ability to write one’s name and read a newspaper, and questioned who would step up to educate those who remain illiterate. He further pointed out that the literacy rate in Punjab stands at just 64%.
Raza highlighted that 16 educational projects launched in 2005 to address illiteracy have now dwindled to only two, underscoring the failure to address the widespread illiteracy in the province. He emphasized that, despite the passage of time, millions of people in Punjab, and the country as a whole, remain uneducated. He placed the responsibility for this failure squarely on the shoulders of the provincial government, calling them both accountable and guilty.
In addition, Raza compared the literacy rates of neighboring regions, noting that Indian Punjab has an impressive literacy rate of 86%, while Afghanistan’s stands at 52%, pointing to the stark disparity.
Responding to the concerns raised, Parliamentary Secretary for Literacy and Non-Formal Basic Education, Chaudhry Naveed Ashraf, informed the Assembly that the Literacy Department currently employs 632 teachers in District Kasur, with a district staff of just 15 employees.
He further stated that across the province, 20,273 schools have been established, with over 680,000 students enrolled. As a result of these efforts, Punjab’s literacy rate has reportedly increased to 66%.
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