Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has said his government considers promotion of education at all levels imperative for realizing social and economic development of Pakistan.
He was speaking to UN Special Envoy for Global Education, Gordon Brown, who called on the prime minister on the sidelines of the 68th Session of the UN General Assembly.
Brown was accompanied by Malala Yosufzei, the Pakistani education activist. Nawaz Sharif said his vision is to build an education system that promotes knowledge economy, creativity, critical thinking and innovation.
Pakistan appreciates and welcomes international cooperation including the support of initiatives like Global Education First.
The prime minister thanked Gordon Brown for his continued support to the government’s efforts to promote education in Pakistan.
He said education was a high national priority. His government was committed to achieving all Millennium Development Goals including the goal of universal primary education.
Prime Minister Sharif also attended a meeting on “Education for All” hosted by Gordon Brown with heads of UN agencies including United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), as well as bilateral and multilateral entities such as United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Australian Agency for International Development (AUSAID), Department for International Development (DFID), World Bank, European Commission, and Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) engaged in promotion of education.
Nawaz Sharif said that Malala was working to spread the message on education in the world and his government would help her in this regard.
He said that Malala was like his own daughter and his government would continue supporting her.
He said that Malala was Pakistan’s ambassador for education and his government supported her objectives.