ISLAMABAD: Amid the challenge of 25 million out-of-school children, the Inter-Provincial Education Ministers Conference (IPEMC) on Wednesday unanimously approved the National Education Emergency Action Plan along with provincial components and key education projects after extensive consultations. The 38th IPEMC was chaired by Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, which was also attended by Minister of State for Education Wajiha Qamar, Federal Parliamentary Secretary Farah Naz Akbar, Secretary Education Nadeem Mahbub, and provincial ministers including Rahila Hameed Durrani (Balochistan), Muhammad Ismail Rahoo (Sindh), Rana Iqbal Sikandar (Punjab, via video link), and Arshad Ayub Khan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, via video link). Heads of federal educational bodies, including the Chairman of the Federal Board and the Executive Director of IBCC, were also present. During the session, participants were briefed on a special federal ‘Challenge Fund’ designed to bring out-of-school children back into the educational fold, with the federal government providing support to all provinces to tackle this national crisis. In a historic display of unity, all administrative units set aside political affiliations to reach a consensus on implementing the education emergency, facilitating there turn of out-of-school children, and introducing international-standard examination and curricular reforms aimed at providing equitable, quality education to every child in Pakistan. Provincial representatives shared significant progress reports: Punjab’s Education Minister Rana Sikandar announced the elimination of 1.8 million ghost students and the outsourcing of 10,000 schools; Sindh’s Muhammad Ismail Rahoo confirmed the merit-based recruitment of 93,000 teachers; and Balochistan’s Rahila Hameed Durrani reported the restoration of 3,200 closed schools, bringing 140,000children back to classes. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa confirmed a 6 percent increase in enrollment alongside the recruitment of 10,000 teachers, while Azad Kashmir’s Minister Malik Zafar highlighted the allocation of Rs7 billion for 10,000 new classrooms despite LoC challenges. Gilgit-Baltistan also shared initiatives regarding special funds for out-of-school children and the expansion of the ‘School Meal Programme’. Federal Secretary Education Nadeem Mahbub stated that all endorsement and approved projects would receive final ratification from the ‘Education Emergency Task Force’ chaired by the Prime Minister. He further invited provinces to benefit from the Federal Board’s reform program and emphasized aligning Metric and Inter-Tech programmes with global standards. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026