KARACHI: President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday signed “The Right to Free and Compulsory Education Bill-2012” in a ceremony held at the Chief Minister House in Karachi.

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan, Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Federal Minister for Education, Nazar Muhammad Gondal and State Minister for Education and Training Sheikh Waqas Akram witnessed the signing ceremony.

Federal and provincial ministers, PPP-MPAs, other senior leaders of the party and senior federal and provincial government officers were also present on the occasion.

The parliament had recently passed the bill. After the assent of the president it has now become a law.

The president congratulated the parliament for passing a very important bill, through which the right to free and compulsory education for all children aged between 5 to 16 years, has been recognised.