Imran’s constituency ranks top education performer: report
By Abrar Hamza

KARACHI: Chief of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan is the only leader in Pakistan’s mainstream political leadership, who was elected from the constituency-Rawalpindi district that ranked number one in top education performing districts out of 148 districts, agencies and frontier regions of Pakistan in 2015.

To stimulate political competitiveness on better education outcomes, Alif Ailaan Pakistan District Education Rankings this year compiled a report on education rankings performance of districts from which parliamentary leaders of major political parties are elected.
With Pakistan’s every political party principally focuses on education reforms in their manifestos before general elections, situation is not appealing except two leaders, rest of political leadership remained failed to fulfil their any of promises regarding education improvement in their elected constituencies.
According to third annual district rankings report by Alif Ailaan and Sustainable Development Policy Institute, Prime Minister of Pakistan and chief of Pakistan Muslim League (N) Nawaz Sharif’s constituency in Lahore stands number three in this ranking where he was elected seven times.
Imran Khan led in this exclusive kind of research as his constituency in Rawalpindi has topped ranking in top education performers’ districts this year.
Rural districts portray awful illustration as Senator and parliamentary leader and President of Jamaat-e-Islami Siraj-ul-Haq’s constituency in Lower Dir, from which he was elected 2 times, remained worst performer resulting in number 78 out of total 148 districts.
Dera Ismail Khan district from where Jamiat Ulmaie Islam leader Fazl-ur Rahman was elected 5 times ranked 74 while opposition leader Khursheed Shah’s constituency in district Sukkur ranked 73 in this list.
Similarly Hyderabad district stands at number 62, from where Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui of Muttahida Qaumi Movement became member of National Assembly first time, Mehmood Khan Achakzai’s of Pakhtunkhuwa Milli Awami Party was elected member of National Assembly from Quetta district 4 times and this district ranked 45 in this list.
Some uncomfortable truths emerged from this data. Notably from provincial representatives, current Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah seven-time winner has been repeatedly unable to improve education rankings in his district.
The performance of Punjab is commendable, however it may highlight the Lahore-centric discourse in province.
The religious parties in particularly Jamaat e Islami and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) are very vocal and active on certain education issues (like curriculum) and express strong support for education for children however both parties’ leaders’ districts were very poor in education ranking.
Without such a centrality, topic of education will continue to struggle to gain attention of Pakistan’s decision-makers and thereby continue to be neglected as it always has been, report concluded.

Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk

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