Malala meets PM Abbasi, seeks govt support for education promotion
- By Web Desk -
- Sep 21, 2017
NEW YORK: Nobel Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai has met Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi here on the sidelines of the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
Admiring Malala’s efforts for promoting education and improving the status of women, Pakistan’s prime minister said that education is the forefront agenda of his government.
On the occasion, the activist for female education sought PM Abbasi’s support to promote education in rural areas of Pakistan, particularly in Swat.
The premier responding here said that education is the topmost priority of his government as no investment would yield dividends without investing in the education sector.
PM Abbasi further said that government has been establishing more universities across the country, besides increasing the education budget to raise the literacy rate in Pakistan.
On female education, the premier said that the government has still to work a lot to address the gender inequality and infrastructure issues.
“The government is also in contact with NGOs [and] the provincial governments to achieve this objective,” he added.
PM Abbasi said that he believed in the quality of the education rather than quantity.
PM Abbasi to address General Assembly tonight
Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi will address the-the UN General Assembly session in New York tonight.
He is leading a delegation of Pakistan to attend the UNGA session.
Abbasi’s address to the General Assembly will be his debut to represent Pakistan at highest international level after being sworn in as the prime minister of the country.