Oct 13, 2021 – Islamabad: Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi (ITA), Centre for Education and Consciousness, launched The Girls Education & Enterprise Alliance (GEEA) to empower girls and young women in Pakistan with the support of national and global champions of Girls’ Education. Dr. Sania Nishtar was a chief guest on the occasion. The purpose of this gathering was to bring together parliamentarians, government, development partners, education experts and civil society advocates on one platform to pledge for SMART programs for out-of-school girls. Keynoting the event, Dr. Sania remarked, “Our government is fully conscious that an educated girl can contribute more effectively to society. Ehsaas’ conditional cash transfer (CCT) programmes providing cash stipends for education and nutrition are purposely skewed in favour of girls to safeguard gender equity”. Besides, Aida Girma, Country Representative, UNICEF; Javed Ahmed Malik, Programme Director, Malala Fund; Mosharraf Zaidi, CEO, Tabadlab; Amna Khalid, FCDO; Alima Bibi, UNESCO; Nazia Sehar, JICA; Fahad Hussain, Dawn News; Waseem Ajmal, Ministry of Federal Education & Professional Training; Shabnam Sarfaraz, Ministry of Planning & Development; and Syed Shahnawaz, Country Director Oxfam were also present at the launch.
