A two-day national summit opened in Islamabad on February 11, 2026, bringing together members of Parliament and provincial assemblies, vice chancellors, education department representatives, development partners, curriculum experts and education leaders to build consensus on the National Curriculum for Pakistan.
The proceedings began with the National Anthem and a recitation from the Holy Quran, followed by a welcome address from Nadeem Mahbub, Secretary of the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, who stressed the need for a nationally coherent, future-oriented curriculum aligned with Pakistan’s constitutional values and cultural identity.
The Director of the NCC Wing at the ministry set out the summit objectives and presented the vision and mission of the proposed new curriculum framework. A keynote by international expert Alonso Sanchez of the World Bank highlighted global lessons in curriculum transformation, urging evidence-based policymaking and stronger links between curriculum, pedagogy and assessment to improve classroom practice.
Addressing participants, Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Federal Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training, called for a transformation that goes beyond textbook revision to nurture critical thinking, ethical grounding, creativity and responsible citizenship. The minister emphasised implementation fidelity, close coordination with provinces and the importance of preparing learners for emerging global realities while remaining rooted in Pakistan’s cultural foundations.
In his remarks, Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, reflected on the historical evolution of education in Pakistan and urged a revival of inquiry, innovation and scholarship. He highlighted strengthening conceptual learning in local languages and the urgent need to integrate Technical and Vocational Education and Training into the National Curriculum so that skill-based education begins early and aligns with market needs.
Speakers proposed key features for effective rollout, including competency-based frameworks, emphasis on science, technology and innovation, civic responsibility, and structured mechanisms for phased, sustainable implementation. The first day concluded with a panel discussion on issues and challenges and breakout groups that developed practical recommendations for systemic reform.
Deliberations on day one laid the groundwork for a transformative and inclusive National Curriculum that seeks to foster empathy, creativity, teamwork, collective competence and responsible citizenship across Pakistan’s diverse education landscape. Participants underlined that translating the new National Curriculum into classroom practice and coordinated provincial implementation will be critical to delivering equitable learning outcomes nationwide.
