LAHORE, March 20: Punjab Minister for Literacy and Non-formal Basic Education Husain Jahanian Gardezi has said that country's literacy rate was abysmally low even among Saarc countries.

He was speaking at the annual prize distribution ceremony of the Crescent Model Higher Secondary School (Girls section) on Saturday.

He said that the literacy rate in Punjab, the most developed province of the country, was also hopeless.

Mr Gardezi lauded the standards of the school. He said the reputation of the institution among public could be judged from the fact that the ministers received maximum requests for admissions to this school.

He, however, asked the school administration to continue struggle to achieve more laurels as there was always room at the top.

The minister also visited the exhibition of different models, computer applications, charts, portraits and other items prepared by the students of the school.

Earlier, headmistress Ms J. Khan highlighted in the annual report different curricular and co-curricular activities of the school's held during 2003-04 session.

She said the girls had excelled in every field as well as bagged top positions in the board examinations.

School's vice-head girl Sobia Sarwar also spoke on behalf of students.

The minister also distributed medals and prizes among the students who excelled in academic and co-curricular activities.

The Crescent Educational Trust's chairman and board of trustees' members and parents of award winner students attended the function.