Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal says Pakistan cannot improve the quality of education without first improving the quality of its teachers.
Iqbal made the remarks during a visit to the National Institute for Excellence in Teacher Education, where he received a briefing on teacher training and ongoing projects.
‘Teaching is a mission’
Iqbal said he wants to build South Asia’s best teacher training institution.
He said teaching is much more than a job. It is a responsibility that plays a major role in shaping society.
The minister recalled that four major education reform projects were assigned to the Ministry of Education in 2013.
Federal Minister for Planning, Development Ahsan Iqbal said that education is the backbone of a nation’s development and prosperity, and that Pakistan’s path to progress fundamentally depends on quality education and the preparation of highly capable teachers. pic.twitter.com/GcBKnnsw6X
— APP (@appcsocialmedia) August 21, 2026
He expressed satisfaction that the initiative had since developed into an active and stable institution.
Iqbal compared the institute to a plant established by the Ministry of Planning that is now growing into a strong tree.
Students need more than rote learning
The minister also called for a change in how students learn.
He said young people should move away from rote learning and copying and instead develop creative and critical thinking skills.
Pakistan needs a generation that can write books, conduct research and come up with new ideas, he added.
Teacher quality linked to economic growth
Iqbal said the quality of teachers is one of the fundamental issues affecting Pakistan’s economic development and future.
Better teacher training, he suggested, can help create students who are better prepared to think independently and contribute to the country’s progress.
