Learning festival inaugurated in capital

Official says about 0.2 to 0.3m children will participate in three-day event

ISLAMABAD:

Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui on Friday inaugurated the Next Generation Pakistan Learning Festival in the federal capital.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Federal Minister of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Prof Ahsan Iqbal, Supreme Court Judge Justice Athar Minallah and Education Secretary Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Education Secretary Mohiyuddin Wani hoped that 200,000 to 300,000 children would participate in the three-day learning festival, saying such learning festivals would also be organised at the national level in collaboration with the provinces.

The mega-learning festival in the history of the country had multiple learning activities like knowledge sharing, story-telling, documentaries, movies, book fairs, book reviews, Ed-tech and skills activities, he mentioned.

Addressing the learning festival, Justice Athar Minallah said that the youth of today had a lot of potential and the limit of the development was sky, adding such a festival increased the learning of children.

During his address, Minister Ahsan Iqbal emphasised the importance of organising such festivals across all districts of Pakistan and highlighted how these events provided students with opportunities to meet successful individuals and learn from their experiences.

He reflected on Pakistan's history, calling it a "precious nation built through immense sacrifices." He noted that sceptics at the time of Pakistan's creation doubted its survival. Despite such challenges, he said, the country had made significant achievements over the years.

Highlighting the advancements in education, Iqbal mentioned that Pakistan had now over 250 universities and a robust fibre optic from Gilgit-Baltistan to Karachi connected the nation which symbolised technological progress.

The minister called for fostering peace, stability, and brotherhood to ensure national development. He criticised divisive rhetoric and stressed the importance of teamwork under the banner of "Team Pakistan."

Referring to a past incident where a young man attacked him, Ahsan Iqbal said, "That boy's mind was poisoned with hatred by political leaders and social media." He urged the audience to reject the "virus of hatred and prejudice" and embrace tolerance for a brighter future.

Principal IMCGF Ten to Islamabad Shazia Shamim Rizvi said that such a festival gave guidance to children about modern education.

Meanwhile, Minister Siddiqui visited the book stalls and observed other activities of the event. The ceremony concluded with a strong message of hope and determination, encouraging the youth to pursue their dreams and contribute to Pakistan's journey toward becoming one of the leading nations in Asia.

The learning festival will continue today (Saturday) and Sunday.