Karachi: Gulberg Town has formally launched its Educational Card initiative, issuing digital education cards to 5,000 students during a large ceremony held at the Gulberg Gymkhana ground under the leadership of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Chief Engineer Hafiz Naeemur Rehman.These cards will enable students to purchase educational supplies worth Rs10,000, including books, notebooks, stationery, uniforms, and other academic items.Gulberg Town has become the first and only town in Karachi to take a practical step at the grassroots level aimed at promoting education and addressing the educational difficulties faced by children from low- and middle-income families.Addressing thousands of participants - including students, parents, teachers, and school principals - Hafiz Naeemur Rehman praised Gulberg Town Chairman Nusratullah, his team, philanthropists, and institutions that supported the initiative. He said the JI believes not in mere claims and announcements but in practical action. 'If anyone can match our public and educational services, they should come forward and compete with us,' he said.He highlighted the JI's 'Bano Qabil' free IT courses program, which began in Karachi and has now expanded across Pakistan, with 1.4 million boys and girls registered. He added that nearly 50 schools under the party's nine town administrations had been upgraded and transformed into model educational institutions.Hafiz Naeemur Rehman stressed that providing education is the responsibility of the government and the state, lamenting that this obligation was not being fulfilled. He said 26.2 million school-age children across Pakistan, including 7.8 million in Sindh, are out of school. He criticized the Sindh government, saying the condition of 41,000 government schools continues to deteriorate and that billions of rupees in the education budget are lost due to mismanagement, incompetence, and corruption.He vowed that the JI would continue efforts to improve government schools and ensure children receive their right to ed ucation while holding the government accountable.Praising the Educational Card initiative, he expressed hope that the number of beneficiaries would double next year and more scholarships would be provided. 'These children are our future. We will not leave them at the mercy of cruel, incompetent, and corrupt rulers,' he said.Speaking on the occasion, Gulberg Town Chairman Nusratullah said the town was implementing Hafiz Naeemur Rehman's educational vision in practical terms. He recalled that before the local government elections, JI had pledged not to complain about lack of powers but to work beyond its available authority.Acting Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi chief and opposition leader in KMC Saifuddin Advocate, Karachi Secretary Taufiquddin Siddiqui, Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba Pakistan Nazim-e-Aala Sahibzada Waseem Haider, former Gulberg Town Nazim Farooq Nematullah, Director Education Department Nadeem Hanif, Vice Town Chairman Muhammad Ilyas, FBATI President Babar Khan, Jamaat-e-Islami Women Wing Karachi leade r Javedan Faheem, and Shoaib Ahmed. The event was hosted by Mirza Sauban Baig.A school student presented a tribute to Chairman Nusratullah on the launch of the Educational Card. Umer Ahmed and Talha Mahmood briefed participants on how to use the digital education card and explained its features.Before Hafiz Naeemur Rehman's speech, thousands of participants stood and collectively recited the national anthem in chorus style.Commemorative shields were also distributed among guests and individuals who contributed to the town's development initiatives.