LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Education Rana Mashhood Ahmed on Tuesday conducted a story-telling session at the Children’s Literature Festival (CLF) in the Gulshan-i-Ravi Moon Market ground.

The minister read Amjad Islam Amjad’s poem ‘Hum Hein Phoolon Kay Rakhwalay’ before about 250 boy and girl students of public schools participating in the festival organised by Idara-i-Taleem-o-Aagahi (ITA).

Earlier, the students were given an option to select from a variety of books and magazines in Urdu and English languages displayed there and read out any excerpt or poem. Experts were there to give reading tips to the volunteers from the Government High School for Girls, Gulshan-i-Ravi, the Government Islamia High School for Boys and the City District Government Boys High School. Students happily shared various poems and drew colourful drawings, as well.

Impressed by the performance of students, the minister announced the education department would hold a mega CLF at the Gulshan-i-Ravi ground on May 6.

Mashhood said there were no short-cuts in life and stressed children should take the straight path even if it’s long. The government was looking after all the public schools, he said, adding that he would himself take one government school in his PP-149 constituency under his patronage.

ITA Director Programmes Dr Baela Raza Jamil, senior manager ECE Huma Sikander and other ITA members conducted story-telling sessions.

Published in Dawn, April 15th, 2015

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