ISLAMABAD: An international rights group says millions of girls in Pakistan are still out of school, mostly because the government spends less money on education.
Human Rights Watch says they are deprived of an education for multiple reasons, including a shortage of government schools.
The New York-based watchdog says the country — which has a population of about 207 million, including an estimated 80 million school-age children — has nearly 22.5 million children that are out of school. The majority of them are girls.
The 111-page report was released on Tuesday. It is entitled “Shall I Feed My Daughter, or Educate Her?: Barriers to Girls’ Education in Pakistan.”
In 2017, Pakistan spent less than 2.8 percent of its GDP on education — far below the recommended standards of 4 to 6 percent.
Watchdog: Millions of Pakistani girls deprived of education
Watchdog: Millions of Pakistani girls deprived of education
- Human Rights Watch says they are deprived of an education for multiple reasons, including a shortage of government schools
- The watchdog says the country has nearly 22.5 million children that are out of school. The majority of them are girls
Pakistan’s Lahore marks Basant festival after government lifts decades-old ban on kite flying
- Pakistan’s Punjab province outlawed Basant in 2000s after authorities linked metal-coated kite strings and celebratory gunfire to multiple deaths and injuries
- The three-day festivities began after midnight on Thursday as residents gathered on brightly lit rooftops to fly colorful kites to welcome the cultural festival
ISLAMABAD: The eastern Pakistani city of Lahore on Friday welcomed the return of Basant spring festival after the government this year lifted a more than two-decade-old ban on kite flying for a period three days, with Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz urging masses to follow precautions.
Provincial officials, including Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari, were seen flying kites in videos widely shared online. Meanwhile, the prices of air tickets from various Pakistani cities to Lahore have skyrocketed during the three days of the festival as more and more people try to join the celebrations after over a 20-year-hiatus.
Basant, once a vibrant tradition signaling the arrival of spring with colorful kites and rooftop festivities, was outlawed in Pakistan’s Punjab province in the 2000s after authorities linked metal-coated kite strings and celebratory gunfire to multiple deaths and injuries.
The government of CM Nawaz this year allowed Basant festivities in the provincial capital of Lahore, Pakistan’s cultural heart, on Feb. 6-8, but issued an extensive safety plan regarding kite materials and motorcyclists and pedestrians to avoid any untoward incident.
The three-day festivities began after midnight on Thursday as residents of Lahore gathered on their brightly lit rooftops along with family, friends and guests visiting from other cities and abroad to fly colorful kites to welcome the return of Basant.
“Kites return to the skies of Lahore as Basant comes alive again after 25 years,” CM Nawaz said on X. “A celebration of culture, color, and community! Let’s enjoy the festivities together responsibly, follow all safety SOPs (standard operating procedures), and make this Basant safe for everyone.”
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) this week forecast favorable weather conditions for kite flying in Lahore on Feb. 6-8, marked by light westerly winds blowing at speeds of 10–15 kilometers an hour.
Authorities have distributed 1 million safety rods among motorcyclists through designated safety points across Lahore, with spending on the initiative crossing Rs110 million ($392,000), according to local media reports. To enforce regulations and manage traffic flow, around 100 road safety camps have been set up in the city, staffed by teams from the district administration, traffic police and rescue services.
In addition, the Punjab government has launched a free shuttle service to reduce traffic congestion and promote safer travel via 695 buses deployed across Lahore.
