Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal has said teachers are the builders of a nation’s future and must prepare students not only with knowledge but also with character, discipline, critical thinking and confidence.
Speaking at a Teachers’ Day event in Narowal, Iqbal said every achievement in Pakistan had the contribution of a teacher behind it. He paid tribute to teachers across the country, particularly those educating and training students despite limited resources.
Iqbal said peace, education and development were closely connected, with peace giving children the opportunity to learn, education creating opportunities for young people and development providing families with hope for a better future.
He said schools, colleges and universities were the foundation of Pakistan’s future, but teachers were what made educational institutions truly great. He added that the education system must adapt to rapid changes brought by artificial intelligence, automation and climate change.
The minister urged teachers to develop students’ ability to ask questions, conduct research, assess evidence and solve problems. He called for classrooms where curiosity is encouraged, effort is valued and mistakes are treated as opportunities to learn.
Iqbal also said teachers must continue learning throughout their careers and remain familiar with new teaching methods, technology and discoveries. He stressed the need for responsible use of artificial intelligence, saying students should be taught to verify information, think critically and take responsibility for their decisions.
He said education should aim not only to produce skilled workers but also responsible citizens. Honesty, empathy, a sense of duty, respect for others and awareness of civic responsibilities should be an essential part of educating the next generation.
Iqbal urged teachers to give every child a fair opportunity to progress, particularly students facing poverty, family difficulties or a lack of confidence. He said a child’s current circumstances should not be treated as the limit of their potential.
He also stressed the importance of giving girls confidence to pursue their ambitions and ensuring children from low-income families understand that they have an equal right to opportunities.
The minister said education should be connected with practical life so students can observe problems around them, conduct research and develop solutions. He said the goals under the Uraan Pakistan initiative, including exports, technology, environmental protection, infrastructure and equitable development, could only be achieved by developing human capabilities.
Iqbal called for better teaching materials, facilities, practical training and professional support for teachers. He also said curricula, teacher training and examination systems must be aligned, warning that asking teachers to develop creativity while examinations reward memorization sends a contradictory message.
He said the real objective of education reforms should be to have an effective impact at the classroom and student level. Teachers, he added, should identify and encourage the potential of every student, as a few words of encouragement from a teacher can change a child’s life.
Iqbal said students might forget a particular lesson taught by a teacher, but they would remember a teacher who listened to them, treated them fairly and taught them to believe in themselves.
He said every classroom in Narowal should be a place where talent is discovered, character is strengthened and hope is renewed. He expressed hope that a generation trained by teachers would help build a Pakistan that is confident in its identity, capable in its work, compassionate toward its people and respected around the world.
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