Community Town Hall Meeting in Lahore Brings Urgent Education Issues to the Forefront
Lahore: Pakistan Coalition for Education (PCE) -an initiative of Society for Access to Quality Education (SAQE), in collaboration with Pakistan Youth Change Advocates (PYCA) and Social Development Initiatives (SDI), hosted a town hall meeting. This event was part of a series of town hall meetings being organized across selected districts of Pakistan to foster dialogue on gender-responsive, resilient, and inclusive education planning and budgeting. The town hall in Lahore, structured in the form of a khuli kachehri aimed to address education-related issues by bringing community members face-to-face with their elected representatives and local government officials.
“Our aim is to bridge the gap between policymakers and the community, ensuring that the voices of the people, especially those from marginalized backgrounds, are heard and translated into action,” said Ms Areebah Shahid, Executive Director, PYCA. Ms Laraib Kiani, Coordinator, Program Development, Communications and Advocacy, PCE highlighting the objectives of the townhall and the broader series expressed, “This town hall is a platform for meaningful dialogue, where stakeholders can come together to identify challenges and collaboratively devise strategies to enhance inclusivity and responsiveness of our education system. We need to ensure that no child is left behind, regardless of their gender or socio-economic background.”
Members of the Punjab Assembly, Ms. Kanwal Liaquat and Mian Abdul Waheed, listened to the concerns raised by the local community. Ms. Liaquat acknowledged the community’s concerns, stating, “The absence of a post-primary public school in this area is a pressing issue that must be addressed urgently. Education is a fundamental right, and it is our responsibility as policymakers to ensure that every child has access to quality education. We will work diligently to resolve this matter and explore ways to make education more accessible for all children, particularly girls.” She also urged the community members to prioritize education and to present education-related demands to their elected representatives at forums beyond the town hall. “I have visited this community many times and have heard a plethora of demands from the locals, but this is the first time education-related issues have been shared with me.”
Mian Abdul Waheed echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the need for collective action. He remarked, “Education is the cornerstone of progress, and it is vital that we prioritize investment in education, both at the governmental and the household levels. Our commitment is to ensure that the barriers hindering education are removed, and we will work closely with all stakeholders to bring about the necessary changes.”
Mian Shahid Nadeem, Executive Director of Social Development Initiatives (SDI), emphasized the importance of community engagement. He stated, “The Townhall underscores power of collaboration between the government, civil society, and community. By working together, we can identify solutions tailored to the specific needs of the community and create a sustainable impact on education.”
The town hall meeting saw participation from approximately 100 community members, reflecting the community’s strong interest in improving educational opportunities. This town hall meeting is part of a larger initiative by SAQE to encourage dialogue and collaboration on gender-responsive, resilient, and inclusive budgeting and planning for education.