Pak-Japan ink agreement to promote education in rural Sindh

[Edevelop]

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Japan here on Tuesday signed an agreement under which the later would expand girls's education opportunities in Souther rural Sindh.
In this connection, Secretary of Economic Affairs Division (EAD) Nargis Sethi and Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan Hiroshi Inomata inked an agreement here at EAD.

According to agreement, Japan would provide a grant up to 808 million Japanese Yen ( Rs. 829 million or US$ 7.85 million), in order to implement "the Project for Upgrading Primary Girls Schools into Elementary Schools in Southern Rural Sindh".

In her opening remarks, Secretary of Economic Affairs Division (EAD) Nargis Sethi appreciated the economic ties between Pakistan and Japan and hoped that these would further be strengthened through enhanced cooperation between both friendly countries in field of education and people to people contacts in future.

She said that Japan would give more assistance to all rural region of the country to establish the education institution for girls to promote the women education in the country.

Nagis Sheti said that under the programme, the Government of Japan would also help to build around 30 elementary-middle schools for girls in the rural areas of Southern Sindh Province.

During signing ceremony, Ambassador Inomata observed that, in rural areas of Sindh Province, only 7% of girls between age 10 and 12 are enrolled in schools because there is not an enough number of girls' schools at the elementary-middle level.

He added that after the completion of this new project,additional 2400 girls will be accommodated in the elementary-middle schools.

Ambassador Inomata said "the main objective of this project is to improve access to basic education for girls" and "this will help Pakistan achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)."

He said that Priority of Japan government has to expanding education opportunities and development in different areas in Pakistan.

He said that Japan has built around 530 schools so far in various parts of Pakistan since the commencement of Japan's official development assistance (ODA) program in Pakistan in 1954.

He added that in this year 2014 marks 60th anniversary of Japan's ODA in Pakistan and Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe recently made a global commitment to implement ODA worth more than US$ 3 billion over the next three years to create "a society in which women shine."

Ambassador Inomata clearly indicated that this new project for Sindh is a part of Prime Minister Abe's commitment.

He emphasized the importance of promoting girls' education in any society by saying "the more women are educated, the more their children are likely to get basic healthcare services and education."

He expressed his strong wish that girls to be educated in the new schools in Sindh would take leading roles in Pakistani society in future.

In reply, on behalf of the Government of Pakistan, Secretary EAD Nargis Sethi expressed her sincere appreciation for Japan's efforts in promoting education in Pakistan in the past and present.

Pak-Japan ink agreement to promote education in rural Sindh