Meanwhile in other news...

[CENTCOM]

(Photo by U.S. Embassy Islamabad, Pakistan)

Too often we are heavily focused on issues of terrorism, military operations, and activities when it comes to U.S and Pakistan relations. We rarely get a glimpse of our mutual efforts in the field of business, technology, educational, economic, or social development. Unfortunately, this contributes to the skewed perception held by many that the US – PAK relationship is a transactional one.

Recently U.S. Under Secretary for Public Affairs and Public Diplomacy Richard Stengel and Minister of Planning, Development, and Reform Ahsan Iqbal convened the inaugural meeting of the Education, Science, and Technology Working Group under the US -Pakistan Strategic Dialogue at the Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform in Islamabad. Bilateral talks were held to discuss furthering cooperation and our partnership in the fields of science, technology and entrepreneurship.

Under Secretary Stengel stated that, “U.S. Secretary of State Kerry has always emphasized that our relationship with Pakistan is not just about the threats we face. Our partnership is about building a deeper, broader, and more long-term engagement with the people of Pakistan. The Pakistan of tomorrow must be a safe and secure society, free of extremism; a strong democracy responsive to the needs of its people; a growing economy that creates jobs and trade opportunities and increased educational opportunities for all.”

Below are links to some, but not all, of the recent steps we have taken to further our goals of cooperation and partnership with Pakistan.

http://photos.state.gov/libraries/p...ng-and-enduring-economic-cooperation-2015.pdf

http://photos.state.gov/libraries/pakistan/231771/PDFs/factsheet-021314.pdf

Haroon Ahmad
DET – U.S. Central Command
www.facebook.com/centcomurdu

 

[MastanKhan]

Hi,

It would be better to build some schools for kids----build some hospitals as well. Do something at the grass root level---so that the poor can get the benefit----once they get the benefit---they will start thinking good about the U S---once they start thinking good about the U S---then you can say that we have started to win the war.

Both the U S and the Pakistani govts are fckd up----both want to deal with each other and no one wants to deal with the people.

How about 50 schools from grade 1 to high school. How about 50 small hospitals and dispensaries. How about progressing to a few colleges and a couple of universities. How about couple of large hospitals.

An American Pakistani madrassah teaching English, French, german science and technology amongst other things to children.

Pappy---if you don't want to fight the battles coming up---then you can pack and leave----but if there is an iota of a chance that you want to fight to preserve----then you have to do things different than before.

The world is changing at a speed never seen before and all we are doing is lagging behind and the criminal element of the terrorists are in the drivers seat.

We cannot fight all the wars with bullets and guns---we cannot win by training them to fight till death----but we can train them to see the light---right from the gitgo----from childhood---adolescence to adulthood----.

If you want to star a program like that---then do not go thru Pakistan govt----just tell them what you want to do and impose on them what needs to be done and find some Pakistanis who want to make the difference.

 

[Donatello]

Hi,

It would be better to build some schools for kids----build some hospitals as well. Do something at the grass root level---so that the poor can get the benefit----once they get the benefit---they will start thinking good about the U S---once they start thinking good about the U S---then you can say that we have started to win the war.

Both the U S and the Pakistani govts are fckd up----both want to deal with each other and no one wants to deal with the people.

How about 50 schools from grade 1 to high school. How about 50 small hospitals and dispensaries. How about progressing to a few colleges and a couple of universities. How about couple of large hospitals.

An American Pakistani madrassah teaching English, French, german science and technology amongst other things to children.

Pappy---if you don't want to fight the battles coming up---then you can pack and leave----but if there is an iota of a chance that you want to fight to preserve----then you have to do things different than before.

The world is changing at a speed never seen before and all we are doing is lagging behind and the criminal element of the terrorists are in the drivers seat.

We cannot fight all the wars with bullets and guns---we cannot win by training them to fight till death----but we can train them to see the light---right from the gitgo----from childhood---adolescence to adulthood----.

If you want to star a program like that---then do not go thru Pakistan govt----just tell them what you want to do and impose on them what needs to be done and find some Pakistanis who want to make the difference.

Hello,

Good points. I just checked their US Embassy-Pakistan page on Facebook:
U.S. Embassy Pakistan | Facebook

It is good that they are collaborating b/w Pakistan and US universities.
University of Agriculture- Faisalabad and University of California-Davis to collaborate on agri research
UET and NUST to collaborate with Arizona State for energy research
University of Jamshoro to collaborate with your very own University of Utah

However, since most of Pakistan unis are public, expect lots of corruption, like selections for the posts of researchers/PhD/Professors would not be on merit. USAID must make sure that they are the ones selecting the people. Otherwise same old, people would want to go to USA and just stay there.

Apparently they are investing 127 Million USD !!

That's huge, a clear sign of their game in the region.

 

[Adecypher]

If you want to star a program like that---then do not go thru Pakistan govt----just tell them what you want to do and impose on them what needs to be done and find some Pakistanis who want to make the difference.

I believe there has to be a "Think Tank" created, which filters the best suited new concepts, new policies, projects sourced from in-house and foreign Pakistanis who are brilliant in their own fields. All final recommendations should be formalized into a Project Task with strict budgetary control and timeline and then implemented.

The key word here is implementation...

 

[CENTCOM]

Dear Mastan Khan,

You are right about the emphasis that needs to be placed on funding and supporting education- especially of the younger generation.

So far, “USAID has helped rebuild or renovate more than 950 schools since 2009 – providing 190,000 children with new spaces where they can study and learn. In many of these schools, USAID supplied computers, science kits, books, and other educational materials. Another 150,000 children will have access to newly constructed or rehabilitated schools by 2018.”

Check out more info via link below:
Pakistan | Education | U.S. Agency for International Development

Dear Donatello,

Also, as far as people acquiring education here, and choosing to stay here in the U.S. – well, it’s a matter of personal choice, and I do not believe we can do anything about people’s personal choices.

Haroon Ahmad
DET – U.S. Central Command
www.facebook.com/centcomurdu

 

[VCheng]

Dear Mastan Khan,

You are right about the emphasis that needs to be placed on funding and supporting education- especially of the younger generation.

So far, “USAID has helped rebuild or renovate more than 950 schools since 2009 – providing 190,000 children with new spaces where they can study and learn. In many of these schools, USAID supplied computers, science kits, books, and other educational materials. Another 150,000 children will have access to newly constructed or rehabilitated schools by 2018.”

Check out more info via link below:
Pakistan | Education | U.S. Agency for International Development

Dear Donatello,

Also, as far as people acquiring education here, and choosing to stay here in the U.S. – well, it’s a matter of personal choice, and I do not believe we can do anything about people’s personal choices.

Haroon Ahmad
DET – U.S. Central Command
www.facebook.com/centcomurdu

And how about the new USCAS for higher education:

Press Releases | Embassy of the United States Islamabad, Pakistan

"This initiative is a set of partnerships between world-class U.S. and Pakistani universities that will harness applied research to find innovative and practical solutions for Pakistan’s energy, water, agriculture, and food security challenges. Both the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) and the University of Engineering and Technology, Peshawar will partner with Arizona State University to create two centers for energy research; the University of Jamshoro and University of Utah will partner to create the center for water; and the University of Agriculture Faisalabad and the University of California at Davis will partner to create the center for agriculture and food security."

 

[Donatello]

Dear Donatello,

Also, as far as people acquiring education here, and choosing to stay here in the U.S. – well, it’s a matter of personal choice, and I do not believe we can do anything about people’s personal choices.

Haroon Ahmad
DET – U.S. Central Command
www.facebook.com/centcomurdu

Yes you can do a lot....just like through the Fulbright program. Make the students go back to Pakistan and serve at least 4-5 years there. Otherwise there is no point of investing in Pakistan, because the best and the brightest will leave.

Second thing USA needs to do is up its monitoring of the funds and make sure that US people, like Americans themselves select the people for scholarships/research. They might want to hire Pakistani-Americans, who can come to Pakistan and blend in more easily due to language, culture etc.

You need people in the fields, not siting in cities like Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore or Peshawar.

 

[MastanKhan]

Yes you can do a lot....just like through the Fulbright program. Make the students go back to Pakistan and serve at least 4-5 years there. Otherwise there is no point of investing in Pakistan, because the best and the brightest will leave.

Second thing USA needs to do is up its monitoring of the funds and make sure that US people, like Americans themselves select the people for scholarships/research. They might want to hire Pakistani-Americans, who can come to Pakistan and blend in more easily due to language, culture etc.

You need people in the fields, not siting in cities like Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore or Peshawar.

Donatello,

Thank you for your post---. I think that the U S needs to take charge in this case----. Like you mentioned---a 5 years period is a must for graduates to go back ad work in their motherland.

 

[Donatello]

Donatello,

Thank you for your post---. I think that the U S needs to take charge in this case----. Like you mentioned---a 5 years period is a must for graduates to go back ad work in their motherland.

One of my brother in law works for USAID having previously worked for the UNDP in Pakistan. He says there is funding coming in from USA, but no one is actually checking if the work is done on ground or not. Because that calls for field audits, like have schools been built to the standard and equipped? That part is left to the local Pakistanis, and therein lies the problem, that is corruption. Funds are used up but no work is done. So that's like essentially US taxpayers money going to waste.

A good 11 of my friends are heading to USA this year on the Fulbright program. They are all going for various Masters degrees, and since that is 2 years in length, they will have to come back and serve in Pakistan for 2 years before they can apply to work or study in USA again.