TP Report
PESHAWAR: In a positive and timely development for inclusive urban planning and education reform, Amna Sardar, Member of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Assembly, has formally called the attention of the Provincial Assembly to the omission of education, particularly girls’ education and urban out-of-school children, from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Urban Policy 2022–2030.
Through a Call Attention Notice and a formal question, MPA Amna Sardar highlighted that education is closely linked with key urban planning dimensions such as safety, mobility, housing, and access to essential services, and that excluding education from urban policy risks further marginalizing vulnerable urban populations.
“Urban policies shape how our cities function and who they serve,” said Amna Sardar, MPA. “If girls’ education and out-of-school children are not explicitly addressed in urban planning, we risk leaving behind those who need public services the most. This Call Attention Notice is meant to ensure that education is recognized as a core component of inclusive and sustainable urban development.”
The notice further highlights that the omission is inconsistent with Article 25-A of the Constitution of Pakistan, Sustainable Development Goal 4, and the government’s stated commitments to gender equality and human development. The Minister for Planning & Development has been requested to clarify whether the government intends to amend the Urban Policy or issue an addendum to explicitly integrate girls’ education and introduce targeted measures for urban out-of-school children.
Civil society leaders have welcomed this intervention as an important step toward policy accountability. Qamar Naseem, civil society activist and Malala Fund Education Champion, termed the move both necessary and encouraging. “Urban exclusion is one of the fastest-growing drivers of education deprivation, especially for girls,” said Qamar Naseem. “By raising this issue on the floor of the Assembly, MPA Amna Sardar has opened the door for meaningful policy correction. Integrating education into urban policy is essential if we are serious about achieving equity, constitutional guarantees, and global education commitments.”
Recently, Amana Sardar also raised questions regarding the non-completion of earthquake-affected schools. She expressed serious concern over the extreme delays in rebuilding and restoring these institutions, emphasizing the urgent need for authorities to take immediate action to ensure that students can return to safe and fully functional school buildings.
Education advocates note that bringing this issue into formal legislative debate creates an important opportunity for concrete policy reform, ensuring that future urban planning in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa actively supports access to education for all children, particularly girls and those currently out of school.
