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Higher budgetary allocation urged for education

RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: The Chairman of Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI), Shaikh Manzar Alam, has called for an increase in the budgetary allocation for education, according to the UNESCO- prescribed four percent of the GNP for developing countries.

Speaking at the annual sports function of Khursheed Girls College on Wednesday, he said that unless a substantial increase in the budget for education was made, Pakistan could not make much headway in the social sector.

He said that it was a pity that hardly two or three percent of the GNP is spent on education whereas the recommended level for developing countries was four percent.

He said that the lack of education among females had been a major cause of backwardness in the under-developed countries. And Pakistan was no exception. The need for proper education planning was highlighted by the fact that Pakistan had the second highest rate of illiteracy, and the lowest enrollment rate at the primary education level in Asia.