STAFF REPORT
ISLAMABAD: The government of the United States (U.S.) on Saturday launched a $4 million initiative on ‘Improving Girls’ Education Activity. The initiative aims to provide quality education to girls in remote areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The U.S. Ambassador Donald Blome and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Elementary and Secondary Education Shahram Khan Tarakai inaugurated the U.S. government-funded $4 million initiative for ‘Improving Girls Education Activity,’ said a news release of the U.S. embassy in Pakistan on Saturday.
“The U.S. government supports Pakistan’s goal of ensuring a prosperous future for all its citizens-particularly girls,” said U.S. Ambassador Donald Blome. “We look forward to a fruitful collaboration and strong partnership with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province to strengthen schools management system for Pakistani children, especially girls, through this activity,” he said.
School management for quality education
Minister Tarakai appreciated Ambassador Blome’s comments, noting: “In recent years, the private sector has emerged as a key supporter of the government’s efforts to address challenges in the social sector. The successful partnerships in K.P.’s health sector are a testimony to that.
We are positive that with the support from the U.S. government’s ‘Improving Girls’ Education Activity’, we will be able to make school management more efficient, thereby improving school quality.”
During his trip to Peshawar, Ambassador Blome also visited the Eleanor Roosevelt Corner at Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women’s University, the largest Women’s University in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The Eleanor Roosevelt Corner is one of the province’s two American Spaces that provides youth with learning opportunities.
Combating violence through education
Ambassador Blome discussed combating gender-based violence through learning and entrepreneurship with a panel of educators and female entrepreneurs as part of the “16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence” campaign.
“Advancing women’s economic security not only reduces their risk of experiencing gender-based violence – it is an effective development strategy for the whole community. The United States is proud to invest in and support the safety and prosperity of women and girls throughout Pakistan, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” said Ambassador Blome during the event.
Since 2008, the U.S. government has provided over $2 billion in development assistance to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to support education, health, economic growth, governance, and humanitarian needs.
