US launches $4m initiative for improving girls' education in K-P

The government of the United States (US) on Saturday launched a $4 million initiative ‘Improving Girls’ Education Activity’ which aims to provide quality education to girls in remote areas of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).

US Ambassador Donald Blome and K-P Minister for Elementary and Secondary Education Shahram Khan Tarakai inaugurated the US government-funded initiative, the US embassy in Pakistan said in a statement on Saturday.

“The US government supports Pakistan’s goal of ensuring a prosperous future for all its citizens, particularly girls,” Ambassador Blome was quoted as saying.

“We look forward to a strong partnership and fruitful collaboration with the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Education Department to strengthen education for Pakistani children, especially girls, through this activity,” he said.

Minister Tarakai appreciated Ambassador Blome’s comments, noting: “The private sector, in recent years, 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 US government’s ‘Improving Girls’ Education Activity’, we will be able to make school management more efficient, thereby improving school quality.”

Read more: Initiative launched to enhance Pak-US trade

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 K-P. The Eleanor Roosevelt Corner is one of the two American spaces in the province that provides education and learning opportunities to youth.

Ambassador Blome discussed combating gender-based violence through education 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,” Ambassador Blome said during the event.

Since 2008, the US government has provided over $2 billion in development assistance to K-P to support education, health, economic growth, governance, and humanitarian needs.