ISLAMABAD: `It is impossible to abolish evening shifts from all educational institutions of the Federal Capital in the next two years,` State Minister for Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) Barrister Usman Ibrahim told the National Assembly during question hour session on Wednesday.

He said shortage of classrooms was a big hurdle in Enishingevening shifts.

`As many as 400 new classrooms are needed. PC-1 of the project is under way, and we hope expansion will be completed in two years after which we will completely abolish evening shif ts,` the minister said.

He was responding to a question by Muttahida Qaumi Movement lawmaker Sheikh Salahuddin.

Barrister Usman Ibrahim told the house that 23,000 students were studying in evening shifts in 22 institutions. However, recently, Islamabad Model College for Boys H-9 and Islamabad Model Postgraduate College for Boys, H-8, have abolished evening shifts.

He said students studying in evening shift at other institutions will be shif ted to morning shifts after construction of classrooms.

Meanwhile, Pakistan People`s Party lawmaker Dr Azra Fazal said adding class-rooms was not the solution rather it was just a tip of the iceberg. She said population in the federal capital was growing so the government should focus on constructing new schools.

To this, the minister told the house that 15 new schools will be built in the federal capital. `The Fe deral Government Housing Foundation is handing over plots for the construction of 15 new schools,` the minister said.

He added that the Capital Development Authority has also been asl
Later on, in response to a question asked by MNA Zahra Wadood Fatemi, the minister for state for federal education and professional training, Balighur Rehman, told the house that his ministry had requested the government to impose education emergency in the country.

Talking about improvement of literacy, he said in addition to running formal schools, the government had taken various steps to promote literacy at the primary level in the country.

The minister said National Plan of Action (NPA) had also been formulated which had a four-tier strategy including increasing enrollment at existing schools, construction of additional rooms, hiring more teachers, building new schools and introduction of incentives for children.