FREE education is the basic right of every child and the government is determined to fulfil its responsibilities and take concrete steps for the purpose. This was stated by President Asif Ali Zardari, while speaking on the occasion of signing a related bill…. He has rightly said that the problems being faced by the nation are increasing fast and all political parties were equally obliged to extend cooperation to find a solution to the issues.

…Appreciating parliament’s approval of the education bill, the president said it was the vision of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and that the members of parliament had caused it to materialise in a befitting manner … .Mr Zardari said that he believed in consultations and reconciliation and thus took all major decisions after taking coalition partners into confidence in order to make plans a success. He said the country was confronted with many serious issues which needed unity among all the stakeholders.

He asked the leaders of different political parties to forget their personal differences and come forward in order to work together for prosperity of the country … he stressed the need for every citizen to play a role for development of the country and the welfare of the nation…. — (Dec 25)

Selected and translated by Ali Hazrat Bacha.