US pledges Rs3.8b for education


Maha Mussadaq May 12, 2010
US pledges Rs3.8b for education

ISLAMABAD: US Ambassador to Pakistan Anne W Patterson announced on Wednesday a grant of Rs3.8 billion for university students from internally displaced families.

More than 7,000 university students stand to benefit from this grant provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). “We consider this contribution to be a valuable investment in Pakistan’s future,” Patterson said at a ceremony held at the head office of the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan (HEC). Nauman Aman, hailing from Batkhela in Malakand, is currently studying for an MBA at the IM Sciences University, Peshawar.

“After my father passed away, I could not pay for my education. So I had to take a semester off to work and save up for tuition fee. For students like me this is a blessing,” he told The Express Tribune. The grant complements a Rs7.2 billion cash grant to the Benazir Income Support Programme made in February 2010, and a Rs3.7 billion contribution to assist in resettling displaced people in November 2009.

Published in the Express Tribune, May 13th, 2010.

COMMENTS (2)

Mussarat Ahmedzeb Swat | 14 years ago | Reply Thank you for the 3.8 billoion the money will be spent on our CM kid,s who have been displaced and are studing in dubai.
Dr. Ghulam Murtaza Khuhro | 14 years ago | Reply Hats off to Anne W Patterson for investing in education in Pakistan. However, we require $3.8 billion to universalize education as it is, inter alia, an important key to help particularly youth of this country to develop a hope and march towards a better future. Yet, only American generosity will not do, we have to cut our all additional expenditures except those for development in infrastructure, energy and health for at least 3-5 years and divert all funds to education. A minimum amount of Rs250-300 billion with increments of at least 100-150 billion each year is required to cash in on dormant demographic dividend in the age of knowledge and innovation economy. This amount will help growth of the economy as well as a result of investment in infrastructure, purchases and employment. Besides, society as whole should mobilize its resources. All educated and capable people whether in working age or retired should be encouraged to contribute towards system of KRID (knowledge, research, innovation and development).
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