Islamabad:The speakers at a seminar on Literacy for Peace observed that the political will and enhancement of allocations for informal education were must to promote literacy in the country.

They observed that lack of awareness about the importance and significance of adult literacy, lack of political will and absence of consistency in policy have been some major problems in having significance raise in literacy rate which according to official figures stands 57%.

The seminar was organized by the Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) in collaboration with Unesco on the eve of the International Literacy Day.

Addressing the seminar Leader of the House in the Senate Nayyar Hussain Bokhari said that there was need to change definition of literacy. Literacy does not mean that an adult can read a paragraph in any language rather it should be directed to provide quality education and produce responsible citizens, he added.

He said the constitution of Pakistan also says the state shall be responsible for eradication of illiteracy and provision of free and compulsory education up to the secondary level within minimum possible time.

He observed that the CADD should play its part in making the federal capital as role model in the education sector.

He suggested that all the educational institutions should have their own buses for pick and drop to teachers and students. By doing so there will be less traffic on roads and children of rich and poor class will be travelling in the same transport, he said.

Federal Minister Mustafa Nawaz Khokar said there was need to increase allocations for the education sector and cut defence expenditures.

Delivering message of Unesco Director General Irina Bokova, the country representative said the world needed strong political commitment and support for promotion of literacy across the world.

She said according to latest figures, as many as 793 million people majority of them of girls and women are deprived basic facilities of literacy.

Federal Secretary Professional and Vocational Training Chaudhry Qamar Zaman and CADD additional secretary also spoke on the occasion.The news.