Landmark resolution in the Provincial Assembly calls for “Year of the Revival of Girls’ Education in KP”

PESHAWAR, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th May, 2026) A major push for girls’ education echoed in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Assembly before the budget session as women MPAs jointly submitted a resolution demanding urgent budgetary and policy action to address the education crisis affecting millions of children in the province, particularly girls.

The resolution, jointly moved by Shazia Tehmas Khan, Ashabar Jadoon, Meher Sultana of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Rehana Ismail of JUI (F), calls upon the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to retain the existing de facto 70:30 education development allocation formula in favor of girls’ education in the upcoming Fiscal Year 2026–2027 budget.

The resolution highlights that Article 25-A of the Constitution of Pakistan guarantees free and compulsory education to all children aged 5–16 years and reminds the provincial government of its obligations under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Free and Compulsory Primary and Secondary Education Act, 2017.

Citing the findings of the Digital Population Census 2023 conducted by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, the parliamentarians noted with serious concern that nearly 4.9 million children in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are currently out of school, including approximately 2.9 million girls.

They termed the situation a “silent education emergency” requiring immediate and extraordinary measures.

The resolution further calls upon the Honourable Minister for Elementary and Secondary Education to officially declare Fiscal Year 2026–2027 as the “Year of the Revival of Girls’ Education in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” signalling a province-wide commitment to reversing alarming dropout and exclusion trends.

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Shazia Tehmas Khan, the lead mover of the resolution, stated, “Investing in girls’ education is not merely a social sector intervention but a long-term investment in peace, economic stability, public health, women’s empowerment, and sustainable development.”

She stressed that no society can progress while millions of girls remain deprived of education.

Qamar Naseem, Program Manager at Blue Veins and Malala Fund Education Champion, welcomed the parliamentary initiative and said, “This resolution reflects a timely political commitment towards addressing the alarming education emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Girls’ education must become a provincial priority backed by adequate financing, policy reforms, community engagement, and sustained political leadership to ensure that no girl is left behind.”

The lawmakers urged all political parties, civil society organizations, development partners, education experts, media, and community leaders to support a collective movement for girls’ education and ensure that the upcoming provincial budget reflects the true scale of the crisis.

The move is being viewed by education advocates as one of the strongest parliamentary calls in recent years for prioritizing girls’ education in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa through dedicated financing and political commitment.