Lahore, January 25:
Provincial Minister for Education Punjab Rana Sikandar Hayat attended the Girls Education Fest 2026, organized under the HER-izon: Strengthening Women’s Educational Leadership project by Youth Tube in collaboration with the Punjab Education Curriculum, Training and Assessment Authority (PECTAA).
Addressing the ceremony held in connection with International Education Day, the minister said that girls’ education remains a top priority of the Punjab Government. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, he said, concrete and sustainable steps are being taken to strengthen women’s educational leadership across the province.
Rana Sikandar Hayat announced that province-wide sports and speech competitions will be organized in schools across Punjab in February. He further announced that the laptop distribution scheme will now also include students of private schools, marking a significant expansion of the government’s education support initiatives.
The minister stated that the quality of education in public sector schools has significantly improved due to ongoing reforms. He said the government is focusing on access, quality, and retention in girls’ education, adding that computer education, student scholarships, and teacher training are key priorities of the current education policy.
He also announced PKR 300,000 in total cash awards for teachers and students participating in the Girls Education Fest.
Malala Fund Pakistan CEO Dr. Nishat Riaz appreciated the confidence and leadership demonstrated by participating girls and emphasized the importance of sustained investment in platforms that amplify girls’ voices in education policy and public discourse.
Youth Tube CEO Iqbal Haider Butt said the Girls Education Fest has placed girls’ voices at the center of education reforms. He added that the Punjab Female Head Teachers Network (PFHN), established under the HER-izon project, has emerged as an effective platform for promoting women’s leadership in school education.
The festival featured reel-making, speech, and quiz competitions among students from public sector girls’ schools across Punjab. A total of 105 schools applied, 72 participated, and 55 qualified for the final rounds. The event was attended by 210 students, education leaders, policymakers, and civil society representatives.
Competition Results
Reel-Making:
First: Government Girls Elementary School Rehman Pura
Runners-up: Jagiyan and Nonarian
Third: Government High Schools Nowshera Virkan & Mahmood Booti
Urdu & Punjabi Speech:
First: Khadija and Rimsha (GGPS Nishtar Colony, Lahore)
Second: Laiba Yousaf (GGHS 138 Jahanian, Khanewal) & Mehreen (GGPS Nishtar Colony)
Quiz:
First: Government Girls Primary School Nawab Pura
Second: Government Girls High School Nonarian
The panel of judges included Sabiha Shaheen, Shakeel Ahmed Bhatti, Dr. Nadia Asif, Muhammad Ali (Malala Fund), Nain Sukh, Sarmad Shafiq, Junaid Aslam, Sarang Aamir, Hussain Sajjad Hashmi, Ahmed Zafar, Rida Zainab, Abdullah Liaqat, Umama Asif and Hafiza Asma. The event was moderated by Muzammil Majeed and Osama Nasir of Youth Tube.
