Adviser to the Prime Minister on Tourism, Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan, has urged Pakistan’s business community to allocate at least one per cent of their annual profits to initiatives aimed at enrolling millions of out of school children across the country. He issued the appeal during a gathering of business leaders in Islamabad, organised to support the Green Crescent Trust’s (GCT) education programmes in Sindh.
Private sector encouraged to expand education access
The event, hosted by Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) President Usman Shaukat, brought together senior industrialists and corporate representatives. Khan told participants that greater private-sector engagement could help expand charitable schools in underserved regions and strengthen efforts to address Pakistan’s high number of out of school children.
He said additional contributions from businesses would accelerate the establishment of affordable, quality schools in communities with limited educational infrastructure.
Calls for transparency in public spending
Khan also highlighted the need for stricter oversight of government spending on education and health. He noted that more transparent use of existing allocations could significantly improve outcomes for children who lack access to schooling. He further pointed to examples of GCT alumni returning to teach in their former schools, describing it as evidence of sustained community development.
Green Crescent Trust outlines its ongoing expansion plans
GCT CEO Zahid Saeed informed attendees that federal and provincial governments spent a combined Rs 3.2 trillion on education and health last year. He said effective utilisation of these funds could improve the pace of progress and broaden access for out of school children.
Saeed said the Trust currently operates 173 charitable schools across Sindh, enrolling 34,660 students, including 2,150 orphans. Girls make up more than 40 per cent of the enrolment, supported by over 2,000 teachers deployed in low-income and remote areas.
He added that GCT plans to expand its school network to 250 institutions over the next five years, with the goal of providing education to 100,000 underprivileged children. From 2026 onward, the Trust aims to extend its operations to provinces beyond Sindh.
Partnerships formed to support underserved communities
Saeed said GCT has collaborated with the Sindh Education Foundation, Mohammad Shafi Trust, and several other non-profit organisations to jointly operate schools in areas where education facilities are limited. He noted that such partnerships are necessary to reduce the number of out of school children and extend access to quality education nationwide.
Recognition for RCCI President
During the event, Khan presented a certificate to RCCI President Usman Shaukat, acknowledging his support for GCT’s schooling initiatives. Shaukat was also named a brand ambassador for the Trust’s campaign focused on enrolling out of school children in underserved communities.
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