Islamabad: Director General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), H.E. Dr. Khaled El-Enany, called on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif today.
The Prime Minister was assisted during the meeting by Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Minister for Science and Technology Khalid Hussain Magsi, Minister for National Heritage and Culture Aurangzeb Khichi, along with senior officials.
Congratulating Dr. El-Enany on his election as Director General of UNESCO, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s strong commitment to UNESCO’s core values, including the promotion of inclusive and quality education, protection of cultural heritage, and strengthening resilience against global challenges.
The Prime Minister commended UNESCO’s ongoing work worldwide and expressed Pakistan’s desire to further enhance collaboration with the organization under Dr. El-Enany’s leadership. He highlighted key initiatives undertaken by the Government of Pakistan to promote education, particularly the “Education Emergency” aimed at increasing enrollment of out-of-school children. He also shared Pakistan’s experiences and best practices in the education sector, drawing on the progress achieved during his tenure as Chief Minister of Punjab.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appreciated UNESCO’s support in the protection and preservation of Pakistan’s six cultural heritage sites and invited the organization to partner with Pakistan in enlisting additional sites, including the Khewra Salt Mines.
Dr. El-Enany thanked the Prime Minister for the warm welcome and shared that he had visited several schools and cultural sites during his stay. He praised Pakistan’s achievements in the education sector and reaffirmed UNESCO’s continued commitment to supporting Pakistan in the fields of education, science, and culture.
