Islamabad: The SOS Foundation organized a Literacy Walk in Islamabad on the occasion of International Literacy Day to highlight the alarming issue of out-of-school children in Pakistan and call for urgent and meaningful action to ensure the right to education for every child.

The walk was led by Dr. Abdus Salam, CEO SOS Foundation, and was attended by social workers Zofisha Naeem, Saima Khan, Nauman Shakir, Sardar Zubair and Programme Officer Junior Jinnah Trust Nauman Iftikhar, along with students, teachers, social workers and people from different walks of life.

The walk started from F-6 Markaz (Super Market), Islamabad, and concluded at the National Press Club Islamabad. Participants raised slogans and carried messages calling for universal access to education and immediate measures to bring out-of-school children into the education system.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Abdus Salam, CEO SOS Foundation, said that 26 million out-of-school children constitute one of the biggest challenges facing Pakistan and require a comprehensive national response rather than temporary or symbolic measures.

He stressed that Article 25-A of the Constitution of Pakistan must be effectively enforced to ensure every child's fundamental right to free and compulsory education. He also called upon the government to honour Pakistan's commitment to the international community under UN Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG-4), which seeks inclusive, equitable and quality education for all.

Dr. Abdus Salam pointed out that child labour remains one of the major reasons children remain outside the education system. He also highlighted the shortage of schools and trained teachers in many areas, saying that the education system must be expanded in proportion to the growing number of children.

'Pakistan needs an Education Emergency in the real sense of the term, backed by adequate financial allocations, effective planning, accountability and a large pool of trained human resources,' he said.

He warned that failure to address the issue today could have serious consequences for the country's future. 'If we fail to bring these 26 million children into schools, tomorrow we may face 26 million illiterate and unskilled families. Illiterate and unskilled young people are also more vulnerable to exploitation and can become easy targets for illegal activities,' he added.

Dr. Abdus Salam said that providing education to every child is not merely an educational responsibility but a national imperative linked to Pakistan's economic development, social stability, security and future prosperity.

The participants called upon the government, private sector, civil society and education stakeholders to join hands to ensure that no child remains deprived of education.