A two-day summit on the New National Curriculum opened in Islamabad with wide representation from Parliament and provincial assemblies, vice chancellors, education department officials, development partners, curriculum specialists and school leaders. Participants gathered to deliberate concrete steps for a coherent, future-ready National Curriculum that responds to Pakistan’s social and developmental needs.
The proceedings began with the national anthem and a recitation from the Holy Quran followed by a welcome from Nadeem Mahbub, Secretary of the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, who acknowledged the participation of UNESCO and UNICEF and reaffirmed the need for a curriculum aligned with Pakistan’s constitutional values and cultural identity. The Director of the NCC Wing set out the summit objectives and the proposed framework for the new curriculum.
A keynote by World Bank expert Alonso Sanchez highlighted global lessons on curriculum transformation and instructional reform, stressing evidence based policymaking and the importance of linking curriculum, pedagogy and assessment to strengthen classroom practice. His remarks reinforced the summit focus on measurable outcomes and systemic coherence as the foundation for successful reform of the National Curriculum.
Addressing the assembly, Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training, underscored that reform must go beyond textbook updates to cultivate critical thinking, ethical grounding, creativity and responsible citizenship. He emphasised implementation fidelity and strong coordination with provincial authorities to ensure that the National Curriculum is delivered consistently across diverse education settings.
Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, reflected on the historical role of education in national progress and called for reviving a culture of inquiry and scholarship. He advocated for strengthening conceptual learning in local languages to improve comprehension and inclusivity, and for integrating Technical and Vocational Education and Training within the National Curriculum so that skill development begins early and aligns with labour market needs.
The first day closed with a panel on issues and the way forward and breakout group deliberations that produced practical recommendations for phased, sustainable implementation. Discussions emphasised competency based frameworks, a stronger focus on science, technology and innovation, civic responsibility and mechanisms to support teachers and provinces during transition. The summit set a foundation for consensus building towards an inclusive National Curriculum that aims to nurture empathy, creativity, teamwork and collective competence across Pakistan’s education system.
