Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui has lauded the efforts of the United Kingdom for increasing enrollment of out of school children in Pakistan. He was talking to British High Commissioner to Pakistan, Jane Marriott, who called on him in Islamabad today. The Minister informed the British High Commissioner that the government is working on a programme to declare education emergency in the country on the directive of Prime Minister. He said that the number of out of school children in Pakistan is ballooning and the only way to address this issue is by making it a national agenda. He encouraged the UK to provide support in the cause of eliminating out of school children. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said we need to bring all the stakeholders especially donors on one platform so that all the effort can be channeled and streamlined. Speaking on the occasion, Jane Marriott said that United Kingdom and Pakistan are the oldest partners and have been shoulder to should er since 1947. She informed the Minister that the UK encourages expansion of its green programme which can lead to an increase in enrolment of Pakistani students in the UK universities via distance learning. The British High Commissioner also informed that Google Education is highly interested in supporting Pakistan in its bid to address the issue of access to education. Source: Radio Pakistan