PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa minister for elementary and secondary education Arshad Ayub Khan here on Tuesday underlined the need for collective efforts to promote literacy in the country.
He was addressing literacy day ceremony organised by elementary and secondary education with assistance of national commission for human development marking International Literacy Day 2026 as the chief guest at Sahibzada Abdul Q ayum Hall of the University of Peshawar.
The event was attended by director education Jaffar Mansoor Abbasi, managing director of the Elementary and Se condary E ducation Foundation, development partners, civil society representatives, educationists, teachers and a large number of students.
Addressing the ceremony, the provincial minister said literacy was not merely about reading and writing, but served as the foundation for human dignity, social inclusion and economic opportunities.
He said this year’s global theme, literacy for people, planet and prosperity, reminded the world that the ultimate objective of literacy was to empower people, ensure a sustainable planet and promote shared prosperity.
Arshad Ayub Khan said nearly 4.9 million children in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were out of school, adding that the challenge could not be addressed by the government alone. Given the province’s geographical, socio-economic and security situation, he said, the issue required collective efforts by parents, teachers, communities, development partners, and religious and social leaders.
Appreciating the initiatives being undertaken by the education department, the minister said efforts were being made to reach children who could not access conventional schooling through community-based education, non-formal education, accelerated learning programmes and adult literacy initiatives. APP