ISLAMABAD, June 27: Education plays an important role in the overall socio-economic development of a country.

This was stated by Federal Minister for Education Zobaida Jalal while presiding over a meeting here on Friday.

The minister said: “Education builds human capabilities and increases productivity which are vital for national development.” Without enhancement in literacy rate, the socio-economic development of a country can not be accelerated, she added.

Ms Jalal said people could be equipped with information skills through education, which would enable them to meet the future challenges. Global problems like rapid population growth, environmental degradation, poverty, disease, and social inequalities can be tackled by educating the people and creating awareness among them, she added.

The minister said United Nations Population Funds (UNFPA) had signed a project with the education ministry for introducing the concepts of population and development at secondary and higher secondary level. The total cost of the project is $2.144 million, she added.

Ms Jalal said subjects of computer literacy, population and environmental education, health education, AIDS education and value education would be introduced and integrated in the curricula.—APP