Country’s progress, development linked with IT, digitization: Education Secretary

The Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training has decided to establish state-of-the-art IT labs in Islamabad's schools to equip youth with the latest skills and increase their employment opportunities.

This was stated by Secretary Federal Education and Professional Training Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani, while speaking at the National Launching Workshop for "Internet Dost and Internet Zabardast" in Islamabad today.

The workshop was organized by the National Rural Support Programme with support from Google.org.

Highlighting the crucial role of Information Technology and digitalization in achieving progress and development in the current era, Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani underscored that accurate data collection regarding out-of-school children, educational facilities, and health services is unattainable without relying on IT.

The Secretary said schools in the Federal Capital have been upgraded, providing students with the best facilities. He said the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training is committed to providing the best educational facilities to students in government schools.

Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani further added that gym and sports facilities, as well as self-defense classes, would be provided to the students.

He said the federal government has launched an initiative to provide free lunch meals to primary students in government schools in Islamabad to enhance child growth and encourage schooling.

In the first phase, about forty elementary schools will receive healthy, quality, and hygienic free meals.

CEO of the National Rural Support Programme Dr. Rashid Bajwa highlighted that the "Internet Dost, Internet Zabardast" initiative would cover 48 districts across Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, and Baluchistan as well as Gilgit-Baltistan and the Federal Capital Islamabad by July next year.

The initiative will directly benefit over 103,500 underserved women, youth, parents, teachers, and children, aiming to bridge the digital gap and address gender and geographical disparities.

He noted that Google had introduced the "Safe Internet" concept in Pakistan, focusing on students and children.