Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal has called for enhancing digital and innovative literacy besides pen-literacy to compete the challenges of the modern era.

He expressed these views while addressing a ceremony held in connection with the groundbreaking of Center of Excellence at Allama Iqbal Open University in Islamabad on Thursday.

The Minister said we should also prioritize development emergency besides educational emergency to pave the country on path of development and prosperity.

He said according to the 2023 Digital Census Report, literacy rate in Pakistan is sixty-percent which is very less and there is dire need to take it to ninety percent if we want real development in the country.

Ahsan Iqbal said education plays a vital role in national development and raising awareness in the society. He said Islam has also emphasized consistent thinking, deliberation and research.

He urged the students and academia to take guidance from the golden principles of Islam to explore the world in the backdrop of changing international scenario and to meet the modern age requirements.