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KPK
Bunir and Shangla: Local Community Joins School Enrollment Drive
Women and PTC members encourage children to pursue education under the Ilm Packet Program
Staff Reporter
Peshawar:
Under the Ilm Packet Program, funded by the British government and technically supported by the British Council, two separate awareness and advocacy events were held in government schools of Bunir and Shangla as part of a school enrollment drive. For the first time, PTC members and local women community members visited homes to encourage children, especially girls, to attend school.
The Participatory Rural Development Society, in collaboration with the Ilm Packet Program, the Education Department, and district administration, organized communication and advocacy sessions in Bunir and Shangla, distributing school bags, stationery, and other educational materials to hundreds of students.
The events were attended by Additional Deputy Commissioner Bunir Qaiser Khan Kundi, Women DEO Bunir Tahira Jabeen, A.D.E.O Establishment Shangla Saddam Hussain, Program Lead Tariq Hayat Yousafzai, Project Manager Ayesha Haroon, women SDEOs from various tehsils, teachers, PTC members, and Monitoring Authority representatives Aminullah and others.
The sessions highlighted the objectives and achievements of the Ilm Packet Program, which is ongoing in 15 districts of Pakistan (8 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 7 in Punjab), addressing challenges in government schools through practical measures. Pakistan ranks second globally in out-of-school children, with over 25 million children deprived of education. The provincial government has set a target to enroll 1.3 million students this year. Challenges include children outside schools, low enrollment rates, teacher shortages, gender-related issues, and other obstacles, but collective efforts by parents, teachers, religious scholars, and community leaders can overcome them.
The Ilm Packet Program is committed to improving the learning environment in government schools, increasing enrollment rates, and reducing dropout ratios. At the conclusion of the events, awards were presented to outstanding women teachers, PTC members, and women community leaders, while participants signed a joint pledge to promote education and child protection and committed to taking practical steps toward these goals.
National
70th Independence Day of Tunisia Celebrated in Islamabad
TP REPORT
ISLAMABAD: A ceremony marking the 70th Independence Day of Tunisia concluded on a high note, with speakers highlighting the growing relationship between Tunisia and Pakistan and reaffirming commitment to enhanced cooperation.
The event, hosted by the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad in collaboration with CAMEA, brought together distinguished guests, diplomats, and members of the business community. The gathering celebrated Tunisia’s journey since 1956 while also reflecting on the strengthening bilateral ties between the two nations.
Addressing the audience, the Honorary Consul General of Tunisia for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa emphasized ongoing efforts to deepen cooperation in trade, tourism, and cultural exchange. He noted that initiatives in Peshawar and across the province are focused on connecting business communities and promoting Tunisia as a gateway to Europe and Africa.
He further highlighted efforts to facilitate dialogue between entrepreneurs of both countries, adding that Pakistani investors are showing increasing interest in Tunisia, particularly in the olive oil sector where Tunisia holds a leading position. Platforms such as WINGS International Magazine were also acknowledged for promoting Tunisia as both a tourism destination and a trade partner.
Reaffirming a forward-looking vision, he stated that the goal is to transform goodwill into tangible economic and cultural opportunities through stronger people-to-people contacts and business collaboration.
The speaker also appreciated the support of the Embassy of Tunisia in Islamabad and expressed optimism that both countries will continue to strengthen their partnership and emerge as close allies in the global landscape.
The event concluded with a message of friendship, cooperation, and shared progress between Tunisia and Pakistan.
