TAXILA: Secretary Literacy and Non-Formal Education Department Punjab Sumaira Samad has said ef forts were being made to enhance literacy rate in Punjab to 100pc.

Aftercarryingoutinspections of non-formal basic education schools (NFBES) in various parts of Attock, she said more than 400,000 children were studying in the 13,000 schools and the department had so far provided education to 1.8 million students and 500,000 adults.

`We are also striving to strengthen links with the academia, national and international donor agencies. So far, 220 literacy centres have been operational in five districts with the help of the United Nations International Children`s Emergency Fund (Unicef),` she said.

`At least 12,000 children have shifted to formal education from the non-formal education centres and 2,000 new students enrolled in literacy schools during the past three months.

`Despite limited resources, the literacy department is trying its best to achieve the goal of an educated Punjab,` she said.

Free books and stationery would be provided to prisoners while teachers who would impart education to these students would be awarded honorarium, she said, adding the duration of literacy courses in prisons was also being increased to three months.

`The aim of the project is to rehabilitate inmates through educadon and eventually this system of education will also be expanded to orphanages and social welfare centres, Ms Samad added.

Public Accounts Committee (Punjab) Chairman Syed Yawar Abbas Bokhari, Deputy Commissioner Ali Anan Qamar and District Officer (literacy) Memona Anjum were also present.