Over 22 Million Children Out of School in Pakistan, PM Shehbaz Sharif Highlights Crisis

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday underscored the pressing need for increased access to education for girls, addressing the alarming statistic that more than 22 million children in Pakistan, many of them girls, are not attending school. Speaking at the opening of the two-day ‘International Conference on Girls’ Education in Muslim Communities: Challenges and Opportunities,’ Sharif acknowledged the significant barriers faced by Muslim nations in providing equal educational opportunities for girls.

Sharif emphasized the crucial role that educating young girls plays in uplifting communities and contributing to the global economy. He pointed out that while women make up over half of Pakistan’s population, the female literacy rate remains as low as 49%. Additionally, he highlighted that a disproportionate number of the 22.8 million out-of-school children in Pakistan are girls.

“Denying education to girls is tantamount to denying them their voice and choice while depriving them of their right to a bright future,” said Sharif, stressing the long-term benefits of ensuring girls’ access to education.
The conference, which includes international representatives from Muslim-majority countries, also saw the participation of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai. Malala, a staunch advocate for girls’ education, expressed her excitement about the opportunity to speak at the event. On social media, she emphasized the need to protect girls’ education rights globally and called on leaders to hold the Taliban accountable for their ongoing repression of Afghan women and girls.

Malala stated, “I am excited to join Muslim leaders from around the world for a critical conference on girls’ education… On Sunday, I will speak about protecting rights for all girls to go to school and why leaders must hold the Taliban accountable for their crimes against Afghan women & girls.”