Campaign launched amid Karachi's education crisis

Monem Zafar Khan urges philanthropy as education, law, and civic issues worsen in the city

KARACHI:

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Karachi Ameer Monem Zafar Khan on Friday announced the launch of the Parho Parhao (Read and Educate) campaign, aimed at supporting underprivileged children and promoting access to education across the city. The campaign, unveiled at a press conference at Idara Noor-e-Haq, will provide books, stationery, school bags, and shoes to deserving students.

Highlighting the severity of Sindh's education crisis, Khan said around 7.8 million children remain out of school. Of the province's 41,000 public sector schools, nearly 3,000 are non-functional, 76 per cent lack electricity, 15,000 have no drinking water, and approximately 10,000 lack proper washrooms. The campaign will operate through 15 camps in Karachi, with educational materials being collected from households until April 20. The initiative will be supervised by JI Deputy Secretary Waqar Azeemi.

Khan also criticised the city's governance, calling for transfer of powers to the grassroots level, honest leadership, and elimination of corruption. He said past political forces have neglected Karachi, despite it being the country's largest revenue-generating city, and questioned the federal government's commitment, citing Shehbaz Sharif's brief, high-security visit as symbolic of inattention.