The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in cooperation with the Pakistan National Commission for UNESCO and ICESCO, concluded the Rehabilitation of Street Children through Football program in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The closing ceremony was hosted by the National Skills University in Islamabad, and attended by Ms. Wajiha Qamar, Minister of State at the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training in Pakistan, along with several high-level figures, civil society representatives, and international partners.

The Program, held at the National Skills University from April 21 to 25, 2025, benefited 60 boys and girls from vulnerable areas. It was implemented under the supervision of the Human and Social Sciences Sector at ICESCO, as part of the Sport for Social Change initiative, aimed at empowering and rehabilitating street children through football, enhancing their opportunities to access professional pathways in the sports field, protecting them from violence, instilling leadership values, and developing their essential social skills.
The five days of the program featured a unique combination of football training, psychological support, medical examinations, and life skills development, reflecting a strategic vision through which ICESCO seeks to use sports as a means of social inclusion and protection, promote healthy lifestyles, and encourage the integration of vulnerable youth into non-formal education.

During the ceremony, Mr. Aftab Khan, Secretary-General of the Pakistan National Commission, emphasized the importance of sports as a powerful empowerment tool contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. He thanked the Pakistani authorities and ICESCO for their support, and offered advice to the children on the importance of continuing their education and holding firmly to their dreams.