ISLAMABAD, May 15 (APP): Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Sherry Rehman Thursday called for further strengthening government and civil society partnership in ensuring the safer construction and building for schools as well as hospitals in the country. “There is a scope to improve as long as we can all forge partnerships and work together. It is also our mandate to provide shelter to the people and we now add the new terminology of safer shelters or safer buildings,” she said while addressing a two-day international conference on School Safety.
Sherry Rehman said in the years to come we will see smiles in the eyes of the children going to school, a sense of security and confidence in their future, as their future is the future of Pakistan.
The Conference was organized by Agha Khan Planning and Building Service,Pakistan in collaboration with Focus Humanitarian Assistance and Agha Khan Development Network (AKDN) against the backdrop of October 2005 earthquake that claimed lives of 17,000 school children due to destruction of school buildings in affected areas.
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Regarding the conference, the Minister said it is indeed a momentous occasion to see so many people gathered here to share best practices and advocate the concept of ‘School Safety’ for the future generations of Pakistan and the region.
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She also commended AKDN for its efforts undertaken on the subject of school safety and a safely-built environment.
She expressed the hope the consolidation of best practices and knowledge will result in a firm set of recommendations for the government, private sector and other stakeholders.
In his introductory remarks, President of Agha Khan National Council for Pakistan, Iqbal Walji highlighted the objectives of the conference and said it would provide an opportunity for collaboration between important stakeholders to develop a proactive approach in designing integral policies for safer, seismic-resistant schools.
Ismailimail 