Would love to visit Pakistan to promote female education: Kareena

The Bollywood diva has urged parents to let their daughters pursue higher education

A day after Bollywood heartthrob Ranbir Kapoor expressed a desire to work in Pakistani films, his cousin Kareena Kapoor has said she wouldn't mind coming to Pakistan in order to promote female education.

When asked whether the Bajrangi Bhaijaan actress would be willing to come to Pakistan for the cause, Kareena told IANS, "Of course. I would love to go anywhere to spread the message of female education."

Kareena to produce documentary on women empowerment

According to a 2012 UNESCO report, Pakistan finds itself in the bottom 10 of new country rankings for the education of poor females.

The Pakistani government puts the overall literacy rate at 46 per cent, only 26 per cent of girls are educated. Independent sources and education experts, however, estimate that only 12 per cent of girls are literate in the country, states the report.

Kareena, who is also UNICEF's celebrity advocate, said that education is every child's right and she would do whatever she can to promote the need of quality education for children.

Bollywood divas rise to the occasion

"There is no doubt that tremendous progress has been made in India in the area of delivering education to children. But even today, the quality of education remains a big challenge. Girls are the pride of India," she told a gathering of over 6,000 schoolgirls.

She also urged parents to let their daughters pursue higher education. "I met some incredible girls of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya in Rajasthan who inspired me with their life stories. They highlighted their desire to complete secondary-level education. They must be appreciated and allowed to complete their studies," she added.

Ready to work in Pakistani films: Ranbir Kapoor

Kareena, who has put acting on hold at the moment, is busy working for humanitarian causes these days and is all set to produce a documentary on women empowerment.

Earlier she joined hands with other B-town actresses Priyanka Chopra, Freida Pinto, Alia Bhatt, Parineeti Chopra, Madhuri Dixit, Nandita Das and Sushmita Sen for a similar campaign titled Girl Rising.