Moalims

THATTA: President Mamnoon Hussain has said poverty and illiteracy are the main causes of corruption, crime and extremism which can be countered by promoting education at the grassroots level.

“An educated generation can struggle for building a corruption free society in the country,” he said on Saturday while addressing a huge gathering of women at Makli Ground. The function was arranged in connection with the inauguration of Prime Minister’s Waseela-e-Taleem Programme.

Waseela-e-Taleem Programme is a conditional cash transfer initiative of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) funded by the UK government and run with technical assistance of World Bank.

Under this programme, the BISP is providing education to around 850,000 beneficiary children of five to 12 years of age in 32 districts of the country. The BISP mothers receive Rs250 per month per child stipend with a condition of 70% attendance in schools.

President Mamnoon said a strict monitoring system was required for Waseela-e-Taleem Programme so that stipend could reach the deserving children for their education. He lauded BISP head Marvi Memon for activating the programme and also motivating women to play a role in the country’s development.

Mamnoon also praised the United Kingdom for providing financial assistance for education and provision of other facilities to the people of Pakistan and hoped that such cooperation would also continue in future.

British High Commissioner to Pakistan Philip Barton, in his short address in Urdu and Sindhi languages, said both the UK and Pakistan were enjoying strong relations and his country’s cooperation to Pakistan would continue.

“The UK government is also investing Rs47 billion in the Waseela-e-Taleem Programme with the objective that the children, particularly girls, should avail maximum opportunities for the completion of their education,” he said.

Marvi Memon said education was necessary for children and the government fully desired to promote education at the grassroots level. “Women can play a vital role by sending their children to school and Waseela-e-Taleem Programme will provide financial assistance for the purpose,” she added.

The programme, which provides funds to underprivileged students to help them acquire education, was launched by the BISP in collaboration with Aurat Foundation, and financial assistance of the United Kingdom and other foreign donors.

The BISP targets to increase the number of enrolled children up to two million by the end of December, 2016, and extend this facility of incentive based free education to the whole of the country.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 29th, 2015.