JI chief flags growing out-of-school crisis

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Sunday lamented that millions of children remain out of school in Pakistan, stressing it is the state's responsibility to provide them with quality education as a fundamental constitutional right.

He made these remarks while addressing a graduation ceremony of the "Bano Qabil" programme organised by the Alkhidmat Foundation in Sargodha, where more than 1,000 male and female students participated.

He said the programme aims to equip youth with free, quality training to make them employable.

Congratulating the graduates, he said the trained youth would now play a positive role in society.

He added that opportunities remain available for students who wish to pursue further education, noting that campuses have already been established in various cities and more will be set up if needed.

He urged young people to benefit from such initiatives to build their skills and contribute to social progress.

During his speech, he emphasised that millions of children in the country are still out of school and it is the state's duty to ensure access to quality education for them.

He said education is a fundamental right guaranteed under the Constitution.