ISLAMABAD, Jan 20: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has said the government would open 100 new schools in Rawalpindi.

He was speaking at a certificate awarding ceremony of the National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) Literacy Centre held at the Liaquat Auditorium.

Appreciating the endeavours of NCHD to fight illiteracy, the minister said promoting literacy by providing training to the teachers was a step in the right direction.

Talking to mediapersons on the occasion, NCHD chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf said: "The commission is assisting government line department since last one year to address issues like primary health care, community development, primary education, literacy and micro enterprise development".

He said the NCHD was running its programmes in 16 districts of Pakistan. "Apart from the core area, literacy programme is being run in 42 districts of Pakistan," he added.

The NCHD's intervention in district Rawalpindi with respect to literacy drive took place in June 2003 with the opening of 53 adult literacy centres. The number of learners enrolled were 1554. Out of these enrolled learners 99 per cent are females, he added. After 90 days of there establishment, 1,120 graduated from these adult literacy centres.