Islamabad, September 2, 2025 – Shehersaaz proudly organized a landmark event, a Dialogue and Demonstration under its flagship initiative PROGRESSIVE – Program for Safe, Resilient, Inclusive, and Sustainable Education Places for All at Ramada Hotel, Islamabad. The event brought together key stakeholders, education and safety experts, UN Agencies and development partners to reimagine schools as safe, climate-smart, child-friendly, and future-ready learning spaces.

Ms. Almas Shakoor, Executive Director Shehersaaz, welcomed the guests and emphasized that children’s safety, security, and health must always come first in schools. She noted that many past incidents continue to remind us of the urgent need for safer learning spaces, and highlighted that PROGRESSIVE is a step towards not only the well-being of children but the prosperity of society as a whole.

Mr. Jawed Ali Khan, Country Program Manager UN-Habitat, congratulated Shehersaaz on the impactful work being carried out under PROGRESSIVE. He highlighted that schools are hubs of change, and this change must be positive and productive. He stressed that unless schools are built to be safe, resilient, and inclusive, children will feel insecure and unsettled—directly affecting their ability to learn and grow.

The Dialogue & Demonstration featured an esteemed panel of speakers:
• Mr. Abdul Shakoor – Principal Architect behind PROGRESSIVE
• Mr. Bilal Aziz – Program Specialist Youth & Adult Literacy JICA
• Mr. Zafar Malik, Head of Education – UNESCO
• Dr. Afshan Huma – HOD Educational Planning, Policy studies and leadership AIOU
• Ms. Saima Bashir – Member Social Sector & Devolution, Ministry of Planning, Development & Special Initiatives
• Mr. Waqas – Emergency Officer Punjab Emergency Department Rescue 1122

Together, they stressed the urgent need for policy and framework implementation to ensure that children—society’s most vulnerable and sensitive members—learn in environments that protect, inspire, and empower them. Teachers, Students and Parents must work in close coordination when it comes to changing lives and personalities through education.

Founder’s Vision
Speaking at the panel, Mr. Abdul Shakoor, the man behind PROGRESSIVE, shared how the initiative was born:
“For me, every place where learning happens is a school — whether it’s a government primary school, a college, or a university. That is why, in PROGRESSIVE, we do not differentiate between institutions. Every educational space must be safe, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable.”

He explained that PROGRESSIVE was inspired by Shehersaaz’s two decades of work with children and young people in sustainable development, disaster risk reduction, and climate adaptation.

“Schools are not just buildings — they are centers of progressive change in society. Whatever children learn here, they take back to their homes and communities. If they experience safety, inclusivity, and resilience in schools, they will build the same in society,” he added.

Mr. Shakoor stressed that the initiative is rooted in participatory planning and design, working with students, parents, teachers, and authorities, while aligning with global frameworks like the SDGs, the Paris Agreement, the Sendai Framework, and the New Urban Agenda.

During the panel discussion, Mr. Zafar from UNESCO raised the critical issue of “learning poverty”, highlighting that while children are attending school, their learning outcomes remain poor — with many 4th graders unable to solve basic mathematics. He emphasized the need for attitudinal and behavioral changes alongside academic reforms. Mr. Bilal Aziz from JICA suggested that in continuation of the impactful work being done under PROGRESSIVE we must expand beyond schools into community-based and non-formal learning models, engaging students, parents, and communities. He shared that similar models in Bangladesh, Japan, Indonesia, and the Philippines have proven successful. Mr. Waqas from Rescue 1122 highlighted their School Safety Program, which includes first aid training through the Pakistan Life Saver Program, Rescue Scout Corps, and CADRE, aimed at equipping children and communities with lifesaving skills during disasters. As opened by Dr. Afshan Huma from AIOU, she said that Healthy environment takes us towards a healthy adulthood and children must be dealt with care and their mental and emotional wellbeing must be the first priority for every child. Dr. Saima Bashir from the Ministry of Planning, Development & Special Initiatives highlighted the government’s National Economic Transformation Plan (2024–29) — a five-year roadmap aimed at achieving sustainable economic prosperity and steering Pakistan towards a trillion-dollar economy by 2035. The plan focuses on five key pillars, the 5Es: Exports, E-Pakistan, Environment, Energy, and Equity, designed to drive export-led growth, digital transformation, and inclusive development. She also noted that the ministry is currently reviewing several school projects to ensure that safety and security remain top priorities in the education sector.
The central message was clear: schools must be more than just buildings. They must be happy, safe, resilient and inclusive spaces where children are motivated to attend with passion, eager to learn, interact, and grow.

Event Highlights
• Interactive Engagement: Dr. Afshan Huma energized the audience with a fun physical activity, explaining that a 40-minute active learning cycle mirrors a child’s natural attention span, making learning more engaging and effective.
• Student Demonstration: Students from Govt. New Islamia Model School, Carriage Factory, Rawalpindi, impressed the audience with a practical First-Aid demonstration, showcasing the importance of equipping children with life-saving skills.
• Celebrating Dedication: Certificates of Appreciation were awarded to Shehersaaz engineers for their tireless efforts in building safe spaces, and to vendors who provided sustainable materials, ensuring that climate-friendly practices remain at the heart of PROGRESSIVE.
• Meet Droppy 💧: The event also unveiled “Droppy the Water Droplet”, Shehersaaz’s cheerful new mascot who reminds us that water is life and must be conserved for our children’s future.

A Milestone for Pakistan’s Children
This event marks an important milestone in Shehersaaz’s journey of shaping inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable schools across Pakistan. With PROGRESSIVE, we reaffirm our commitment to making every classroom a place of hope, safety, resilience and empowerment—where children not only study, but build positive and confident personalities.