I S L A M A B A D : Educationists, poets and writers have highlighted the need to promote literature and education and urged the next government to pay special attention to such matters.

They also said the majority of the youth are unemployed and a large number of children are out of school, and these issues should be resolved on an urgent basis.

Poet Kishwar Naheed told this agency that the incoming government should focus on basic matters such as employment and education, and emphasised the need to promote literature by taking care of the writers` community.

Another renowned poet and scholar, Prof Ehsan Akbar, said change was a positive feature and a constantprocess todefeatnegativity.

He said education is a must to form a civilised society, and the newly-elected government should focus on promoting primary education in the country.

The government should also take practical steps to eradicate poverty from society.

Fateh Mohammad Malik said feudalism and chieftancies were the basic hurdles in the creation of a system based on equality and the development of society.

He said the freedom of the average citizen from such dominant groups would pave the way forward for the stability of real democracy.

While discussing the elections, he termed the elections transparent and fair and hoped the incoming government would fulfill its promises and commitments.

The claims and revolutionary manifesto of the next government are good, but action and implementation matter most, Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) Chairman Rasheed Ahmed said.

Corruption is no doubt fatal for any country, he said, adding that the absence of delivery of service is a dilemma and the political elite have always ignored serving the masses.

Poet Jaleel Aall said more of Allama Iqbal`s poetry should be included in school and college syllabi, as should his letters to Quaid-iAzam Mohammad Ali Jinnah for greater patriotism and understanding of democratic values. APP