PESHAWAR: Member of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Assembly Amna Sardar has drawn attention to the omission of girls’ education and urban out-of-school children from the province’s Urban Policy 2022–2030, urging lawmakers to address the gap.

Through a Call Attention Notice and a formal question, Sardar highlighted that education is closely linked to urban planning dimensions such as safety, housing, mobility, and access to services. She warned that excluding education from policy risks further marginalizing vulnerable urban populations.

“Urban policies shape how our cities function and who they serve,” she said, stressing that education must be recognized as a core component of inclusive and sustainable urban development.

The notice pointed out that the omission contradicts Article 25-A of the Constitution, Sustainable Development Goal 4, and the government’s commitments to gender equality and human development. The Minister for Planning and Development has been asked to clarify whether the government intends to amend the Urban Policy or issue an addendum to integrate education and introduce targeted measures for urban out-of-school children.

Civil society leaders welcomed the move. Qamar Naseem, activist and Malala Fund Education Champion, described the intervention as necessary, noting that urban exclusion is a growing driver of education deprivation, particularly for girls. He said raising the issue in the Assembly opens the door for meaningful policy correction.

Sardar has also recently raised concerns about delays in rebuilding earthquake-affected schools, urging authorities to take immediate action to restore safe learning environments.

Education advocates say bringing these issues into formal legislative debate creates an opportunity for concrete reform, ensuring that future urban planning in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa actively supports access to education for all children, especially girls and those currently out of school.