He said this in a written reply to a question by MNA Shabir Ahmad Khan on country's literacy rate and the number at which Pakistan stands in terms of literacy rate amongst the Asia's Pacific region.
He said that National Plan of Action (NPA) to achieve the goal of Education for All has been prepared and launched to achieve the target of 86 percent adult literacy rate by the year 2015.
The minister said that 13240 adult literacy centers had been opened throughout the country, which included 1430 centers of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).
He said that 10374 non-formal basic education schools had been established throughout the country.
National Commission for Human Development (NCHD), has launched integrated literacy initiative in 17 districts having 9000 adult centers, which enrolled 50000 adult learners, he added.
He said that 1838 community model schools had been opened in all four provinces under Girls Primary Education development Project.
Federal minister said that education has been declared free up to Metric level in Punjab and NWFP and free text books, stipends, food and nutrition are given to the children at primary level.
Replying to a question raised by MNA Samia Raheel Qazi, Javed Ashraf Qazi said that Agha Khan University Examination Board was an independent organisation and is not under the administrative control of the federal government.
According to the information received from Agha Khan University Examination Board there are currently 109 private schools affiliated and out of these 96 intend to complete their requirements for the SSC certificate examination to be held in 2007.
Dr Farid Ahmad Paracha, MNA inquired the Minister for Religious Affairs to inform the house if any fund has been established for the welfare of Hajj pilgrims at present and inquired the amount available in the fund.
The Minister for Religious Affairs, Zakat and Usher, Muhammad Ijaz-ul-Haq said that pilgrims fund has been established in the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Zakat and Usher for welfare of the pilgrims.
He said that at present amount available in PWF is Rs 62.365 million against an estimated expenditure of Rs 135 million for coming Hajj and the balance amount would be met from other sources.
He added that the facilities provided to Hajj pilgrims during the last three years included purchase of medicines, medical equipment, printing of Hajj passports, Hajj medical material, computerisation of Hajj data. The Minister for Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs, Muhammad Ajmal Khan admitted that there was no proposal under consideration of the government to impose a ban on showing smoking scenes in movies, dramas etc through electronic media.