MUZAFFARGARH: ‘Alif Say Uraan’ campaign for girls’ enrollment has been launched in the district.

Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi (ITA) and Oxfam in Pakistan have launched the campaign to create demand for improved enrollment and allocation of resources for girls’ education. The launch ceremony took place at the District Education Office.

By joining hands with the district government, ‘Alif Say Uraan’ will complement the enrollment campaign that includes various activities to capture the support of parents and community members for messages and activities that demand improved educational outcomes for girls in Muzaffargarh’s schools.

Speaking at the event, Muzaffargarh ADC General Jaam Aftab appreciated the efforts of the ITA and said the district government was very much keen to decrease the number of out-of-school girls.

A panel discussion on girls’ education financing was also held to stress the need for an increased budget allocation for girls’ education.

DEO Education Muhammad Akram Shahid, Coordinator Projects at Oxfam in Pakistan Zeeshan Siddique, Assistant Director Ehsaas Program (BISP) Mahar Asif, Rohi TV’s Amir Dogar and civil society representative Umm e Kalsoom Sayal were among the panelists.

The panelists pointed out the efforts made by the government, the media and civil society to promote girls’ education in the country while they also stressed the need to take more steps to empower girls in Pakistan.

They hailed Oxfam in Pakistan’s efforts to bring education to more girls in the country and reiterated their support for the project.

Pakistan currently has one of the largest numbers of out-of-school population in the world with more than 22.8 million such children living in the country according to Unicef Pakistan.

This is especially aggravated for girls as they face considerable barriers to education.

Poverty, social norms, insecurity and escalating incidents of armed conflicts and violence has led to a decrease in girls’ enrollment and an increase in gender disparity in education.

Published in Dawn, February 28th, 2020