UK foreign secretary visits Kinnaird High School, Lahore Fort

Boris Johnson also calls on Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif, discusses Pakistan’s uplift projects and bilateral trade

As part of the British government's efforts to promote girls education, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson visited Government Kinnaird High School for Girls in Lahore on Friday.

The visit marked the successful completion of a new academic block, which replaces a dangerous and dilapidated building with 23 new classrooms and 11 toilets.

“The school has everything it needs to be successful – amazing teachers, a beautiful new building, all this [support] coming from the UK and most importantly, its bright students keen to learn,” Johnson said.

Kinnaird Girls School #Lahore just one example of #UKAid supporting girls' education. Also met some of #Pakistan's women's cricket team. pic.twitter.com/mf2BdVbmdk

— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) November 25, 2016

The high school is one of 32 schools across Punjab where the DFID-assisted Humqadam Programme is replacing unsafe and unhygienic classrooms with safe and nurturing learning places.

Britain's Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson takes a picture from the Lahore Fort in Lahore, November 25, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS

Accompanied by the British High Commissioner Thomas Drew, Johnson was greeted by the head of DFID Pakistan Joanna Reid and Humqadam - School Construction and Rehabilitation Programme’s Deputy Team Lead, Isfundiar Kasuri.



Humqadam-SCRP is DFID’s flagship education infrastructure initiative in Pakistan. Under this programme in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, as many as 6,000 schools will be provided with much-need infrastructure improvement, directly impacting over an estimated 400,000 government school children a year.

Boris Johnson calls on CM Shahbaz Sharif

Meanwhile, Boris Johnson met Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and discussed uplift projects in Pakistan. The two leaders also focused on ways to further take the bilateral trade to a new high.

Great mtg w/ Chief Minister of #Punjab Shabaz Sharif. We spoke about UK backing for #Pakistan development & boosting trade further. pic.twitter.com/UmBxKodBaQ

— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) November 25, 2016