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Chairperson’s Message |
 It is a great pleasure for me to join NCHD family
as Chairperson. I would like to thank the President of Islamic Republic of
Pakistan, Honorable Asif Ali Zardari, and the Prime Minister, Honorable Syed
Yousaf Raza Gilani, for providing me this opportunity to serve the country.
This shows the support that the government attaches to the social sector
development in Pakistan.
I must appreciate the hard work put in by each and every staff member for
the betterment of common people from the platform of NCHD. I am aware of the
difficulties they have faced in the transition period that this organization
went through. But their courage and steadfastness with which they have faced
these challenges will always be remembered.
I also acknowledge the efforts of Mrs. Faryal Talpur, MNA, and Chairperson
of the Special Committee on the NCHD and thank her for her services and
support to this organization.
Literacy is a key instrument to social, economic and political change of any
society. It leads to eradication of poverty, enhancement in quality
employment, and democratic participation. In the past however, literacy has
not received the political commitment that it should be and its concerning
to note that Pakistan lags far behind its Education For All targets.
The school enrollment ratio, high drop-out rate and poor standards ensure
that there are a large number of adults around who need to be taught
literacy skills. It is time that teaching adults is included in our
Education For All policy. Teaching adults would help in expanding school
enrollment as parents who are literate want their children to be educated.
In this regard, it is important to point out that Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir
Bhutto stressed the need for literacy for engaging the young and unemployed
people, empowering the people and strengthening democracy. Her commitment
towards literacy can be seen by the Pakistan People’s Party’s pledge to the
people to set up a literacy corp in the service of the nation.
It is also encouraging that the honorable Prime Minister has declared Year
2010 as “The Year of Literacy” and the NCHD, in its capacity as the lead
agency for literacy, has been tasked to accelerate the current pace. As a
result, the Commission has geared up all its resources and with the active
support of all the donors, stake-holders and partners, has devised a
national strategy, which envisages opening of over one lac community based
literacy centres across the country during the next three years.
I would like to request the federal and the provincial ministries to support
NCHD for the provision of basic education opportunities to the millions of
out of school children and young illiterates in their areas. I also appeal
to the international community, particularly UN agencies, donors, and the
corporate sector to maximize their assistance for literacy and basic
education initiatives for the down trodden segments of population in
Pakistan
Nafisa Shah, MNA
Chairperson NCHD
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