Pakistan

US announces $70 million for girls' education in Pakistan

Michelle Obama's statement comes during an event organised for Kalsoom and Maryam Nawaz

Web Desk October 23, 2015

maryam nawaz sharif speaking at quot let girls learn quot event hosted by us first lady michelle obama at the white house photo twitter com pmln org

Maryam Nawaz Sharif speaking at "Let Girls Learn" event hosted by US First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House. PHOTO: twitter.com/pmln_org

US First Lady Michelle Obama announced on Thursday $70 million aid to educate girls in Pakistan.

"Building on Pakistan's commitment to double education spending, the US will be investing $70 million to educate adolescent girls in Pakistan," US First Lady Michelle Obama said at a White House event she hosted for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's wife Kalsoom Nawaz. The premier's daughter, Maryam Nawaz, was also present.

Maryam Nawaz to back US initiative on girls’ education

According to a statement, USAID's Let Girls Learn in Pakistan programme will provide $70 million to new and ongoing USAID programmes benefitting more than 200,000 adolescent girls aged between 10 and 19 years.

FLOTUS:Building on Pakistan’s commitment to double education spending, the US will be investing $70M to educate adolescent girls in Pakistan
— FLOTUSnews (@FLOTUSnews) October 22, 2015

PHOTO: PMLN

"With this funding we’re going to be building more than a dozen schools and rehabilitating hundreds of others," said the first lady.

FLOTUS:With this funding we’re going to be building more than a dozen schools and rehabilitating hundreds of others pic.twitter.com/y2TGIyQZ1j
— FLOTUSnews (@FLOTUSnews) October 22, 2015

FLOTUS: We’re going to be setting up health screenings for thousands of girls to ensure they’re getting the medical care they need.
— FLOTUSnews (@FLOTUSnews) October 22, 2015

Mariam thanked Michelle for her support to strengthen Pakistan's education sector.

Let Girls Learn will seek opportunities to foster public-private partnerships and collaborate with other development partners to advance girls' education and empowerment. It will serve as a platform and catalyst for broader political and social commitment to strengthen adolescent girls' education and empowerment in Pakistan.

Maryam Nawaz to home-school 10-year-old daughter for security reasons

"Educated girls become women who strengthen their families, communities, and countries," said USAID Acting Administrator Alfonso E Lenhardt.

Let Girls Learn is a US Government initiative that involves the Department of State, USAID, the Peace Corps, and others to ensure adolescent girls get the education they deserve.

COMMENTS (16)

WAHID | 9 years ago | Reply We so wish that this money is used for our poor people for to gain some actual benefits, but not for politician purposes. Everyone has the desire for the benefits of their children. But in this situation Maryam Nawaz would be feeling ashamed on her..................... that he is only the Prime Minister for some special areas/districts. We thank to the First Lady for the assistance as for education sector. But a part of me request/wishes that for the next time they would also utilies some funds for the benefits of people of this backward area of Distt: Lakki Marwat. No signal penny has yet not spend the present Government.

globalobserver | 9 years ago | Reply What a shame! The country begs for money for girls' education while it spends billions on nukes and military. Shouldn't education of all children, especially women, be a high national spending priority?

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z | 9 years ago | Reply long Live Pakistan, Long Live PMLn. Maryam Nawaz is a brilliant brain and the future leader of Pakistan. Sane Pakistani nation will always be with PMLn inshaAllah.

GKA | 9 years ago | Reply @Amber: My point exactly. USA gives money for development. China however charges high rates for it. Yet China is the friend and not USA

Defence Analyst | 9 years ago | Reply 20 million dollars for big brother, another 20 million dollars for little brother, another 20 million dollars for MNA's and ministers, another 5 million dollars for the security of sharif kingdom and if any miracle happens then remaining 5 million dollars could be used for girls education.

Amber | 9 years ago | Reply @GKA China only gives loans, hence the exorbitant interest rates it charges. On the other hand, what America announced is aid and part of USAID. It is an interest free grant. This aid is part of the "Let Girls Learn" initiative of the First Lady, intended to increase female literacy worldwide. Hopefully the money will be spent on schools and more girls will actually learn.

GKA | 9 years ago | Reply what is the interest rate on this 70 mln ? CPEC charges market rates of interest on debt (7-8%) + 18% rate of return on equity. How much is US charging here?

shams | 9 years ago | Reply So they did not seen any hand picked lady MNA is fit to accompany the royal entourage to White House

Pakistan | 9 years ago | Reply Wait till we learn about what Nawaz Sharif has given in return for all the hullahoop! Nobody would know till he is gone. He almost committed us to fight King Salman's battle! He consulted with those who are traveling with him and all of them are suspects as for as Pakistan is concerned barring perhaps Ch Nisar.

Pakistani | 9 years ago | Reply And yes Mariam Nawaz is not competent at all to run any program let alone an important one like this. But a part of me wishes that they do run a program that will actually utilises these funds and appoint people with some experience so that we can actually gain some benefits. Fingers crossed.

Karachiite | 9 years ago | Reply Madam Obama is, sorry to say, stupid. This money is for sure just going to go into their personal bank accounts. Don't they know Mariam Nawaz's history of youth schemes already?

farhaan | 9 years ago | Reply @Pakistani: hmm

Israr | 9 years ago | Reply In a separate news, Maryam Safdar said, "we thank the first lady for her support of girls education in Pakistan. With the money she has offered, Uncle Shabaz will make a new road in 100 days in Lahore to promote girls education in Pakistan"

salman | 9 years ago | Reply maryam nawaz would be feeling ashamed of his uncle shahbaz who is a master of wasting hundreds of billions of rupees on stupid projects and not on girls education so she had to go to mrs obama to look for aid and grants.

Education please | 9 years ago | Reply No country can prosper if its girls and women are not educated. Thank you USA for the assistance in the education sector.

Pakistani | 9 years ago | Reply I so wish that this money is actually used for the benefits of our children and not end up in politicians pockets.

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