Punjab to ban corporal punishment in schools on Malala’s request

Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi on Wednesday announced imposing a ban on giving corporal punishment in schools and madaris at the request of Malala Yousafzai and added that awarding physical punishment to students, especially to female students will not be acceptable at all.

"We will implement the law on giving physical punishment and this law will be passed from Punjab Assembly during the current month," he assured the Nobel peace laureate, who called on him at the CM Office to discuss activities of Malala Fund in Pakistan, future strategies and other projects.

Former federal minister Moonis Elahi was also present on the occasion.

Promotion of education in the province especially in girls' education and the STEAM programme was also discussed.

Malala lauded Elahi’s programme to introduce reforms in the education sector and paid rich tributes to the education-friendly steps of the chief minister.

Punjab CM while talking with Malala Yousafzai disclosed that 25,000 teachers would be inducted on vacant posts in schools across Punjab.

He said that teachers will be inducted for imparting Punjabi education at the primary level, adding that the literacy rate will increase by adopting the mother tongue as a source of providing education.

"Punjab government is going to launch free transport for female students."

He said that stipends to female students in South Punjab have been increased by 100 per cent.

CM Elahi said that Punjab Educational Endowment Fund (PEEF) will again be functionalised and will be made effective. "The STEAM programme comprising science, technology and engineering arts and mathematics will soon be implemented," he said and added the Punjab government will provide all possible cooperation for opening up a policy unit for the STEAM programme.

"A conducive environment will be provided for preparing future leaders of Punjab."

He said that besides imparting traditional education to female students, they are also being persuaded towards attaining technical education. "For the first time, the education of Nazra and translation of the Holy Qur'an is being made mandatory for the students. Free residence and education are being provided to the children who are begging for alms in the child protection unit," he added.

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The Punjab CM further said that children being used in the camel race in Dubai will also be provided free residence and free education in the child protection unit.

He stated that in the capacity of Speaker Punjab Assembly, he had awarded uninterrupted charters to the private universities for the promotion of education and made amendments to the laws and also improved prosecution service.

Elahi stated that the Rescue 1122 service has become an example with regards to response time across the globe.

He said that the health card is a historic project, adding that Rs100 billion has been allocated for providing free treatment to common man.

"The Punjab government has also included cancer treatment in the health card which will be provided for free now," he announced.

The chief minister said that Malala is pride of Pakistan and that the endeavours of the Nobel laureate for the promotion of education are highly appreciable.

"Malala Yousafzai is not only an excellent example for the women of Pakistan but also for the world. She confronted terrorism and extremism for the sake of getting education," he added.

CM Elahi said that Malala is a role model and an emulating example for others who illuminated the light of knowledge in the darkness of ignorance.

"Malala fund is striving to constitute such a society where every female can attain education and become a leader in future."

CM Elahi lauded the activities of Malala Fund and extended an invitation to Malala, her father Ziaud Din Yousafzai, her husband Asar Malik and the allied delegation to visit the tourism of Lahore.

Malala said that she often hears and reads about CM Elahi and highly acknowledges education-friendly steps of him. She added that the chief minister did invaluable work in the education sector.

Malala said that she is proud to represent herself before the world and pronounces the name of Pakistan with pride. She said that she wants that no child of Pakistan especially of Punjab should remain away from school, adding that she wants to become the voice of female students of Punjab and is striving hard to resolve their problems.

She prayed that may Allah Almighty gives time and opportunity to CM Elahi so that he can undertake further commendable steps for the promotion of female students’ education.

She underscored that besides imparting religious and worldly education among the students, it is inevitable to inculcate critical thinking among them as well.

"Developing new ideas among students along with innovative thinking and positive political views will play a pivotal role for them," she opined.

Programme Director Malala Fund Pakistan Javed Ahmed Malik said that Malala Fund is focused to improve the vision of our education so as to have access to quality education along with enhancing the abilities of maximum number of females in order to empower them as well.

"We, while working jointly with the government, are ensuring the above-mentioned aim so that science, technology, engineering and mathematics should be taught in high schools of female students along with providing latest academic environment to them."

Malala’s father Ziauddin Yousafzai, her husband Asar Malik, country head Malala Fund Pakistan Javed Ahmed, Maria Qantenia, Nida Sultan, Shehra, Chief Secretary Abdullah Khan Sumbal, Secretary Schools Education and concerned officials were also present on the occasion.