President Dr. Arif Alvi of Pakistan has reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring peace, tranquility, and equal rights for all citizens. This commitment extends to promoting education, mainly focusing on the country’s significant number of out-of-school children. In a recent meeting chaired by President Alvi, discussions were held on utilizing mosques as platforms to collaborate and address the educational needs of approximately 28 million out-of-school children.
President Alvi stressed the necessity of concerted efforts involving mosques to educate many out-of-school children. He emphasized the potential of religious platforms in promoting literacy across the nation. The meeting included essential stakeholders such as the Caretaker Minister for Religious Affairs, Sindh and Azad Jammu & Kashmir Education Ministers, provincial education secretaries, and representatives of Auqaf and Religious Affairs departments.
The meeting featured a briefing on the Accelerated Learning Programme, revealing that over 70,000 out-of-school children in Islamabad had been enrolled. The program envisions providing five years of education within 24 to 30 months, catering to children and adults deprived of education. It was highlighted as a flexible, focused, low-cost initiative that could be implemented in various community-provided locations, religious seminaries, and second-school shifts.
Religious Affairs Minister Aneeq Ahmed affirmed the federal government’s commitment to providing all possible facilities for educating out-of-school children. The participants agreed to formulate a policy paper to leverage the platform of mosques for educational purposes, with the draft scheduled for presentation before the Federal Cabinet for approval.
Speaking at another event regarding the Christmas celebration at Aiwan-e-Sadr, President Alvi reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring peace, tranquility, and equal rights for all citizens, regardless of caste, creed, or religion. He emphasized that safeguarding the fundamental rights of religious minorities was a duty for an Islamic welfare state, with a commitment to protect these rights at all costs.
Referring to Prophet Isa (AS), President Alvi highlighted his values of peace and affection, emphasizing their relevance in today’s world marked by strife, conflicts, and wars. He stressed the importance of human life, as cited by Islam and various religions, denouncing wars and advocating for their end.
President Alvi addressed global concerns, expressing dismay over atrocities in Gaza and highlighting the contradiction between religious teachings of peace and the ongoing conflicts. Despite international calls for a ceasefire, including from the Pope, the president noted the continued suffering of Palestinians, including Christians, and lamented the destruction of churches and mosques.
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He recalled the simultaneous resolution over Palestine when the Pakistan Resolution was adopted in 1940, reaffirming Pakistan’s stance on the two-state solution. President Alvi underscored that in Pakistan, all communities enjoy equal rights and coexist peacefully.
President Dr. Arif Alvi’s recent engagements and statements reflect a multifaceted commitment to advancing education, fostering interfaith harmony, and addressing global concerns. His emphasis on utilizing mosques for educational collaboration and celebrating diverse religious occasions underscores Pakistan’s commitment to inclusivity, equality, and peace. As the nation works toward educating its out-of-school children and promoting interfaith understanding, President Alvi’s vision aligns with the principles of a progressive and harmonious society.
