Gilani, Patterson vow to enhance cooperation in education sector
Pakistan
Gilani, Patterson vow to enhance cooperation in education sector
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Wednesday said Pakistan looks forward to further deepening its engagement with the USA through increased cooperation in fields of education, science and technology and culture. Addressing the award distribution ceremony for Pak-US Fulbright scholarship program and to send-off 157 awardees for studies to the US, the Prime Minister said the Scholarship Program for Pakistan was the largest in the world with a joint contribution of US $ 150 million to produce 500 masters degree holders and 265 PhDs over a period of 5 years. He said the current scheme would supplement governments and HECs efforts for provision of adequate number of trained master and PhD manpower in science and technology as well as social sciences, arts and humanities with special focus on students from less developed areas of Pakistan. He noted that this prestigious program has so far achieved 476 Masters and 185 PhD scholarship holders in four years, while 176 Masters and 2 PhDs have completed their studies and were currently serving in Pakistan. Prime Minister Gilani noted that the successful adoption of Fulbright program in Pakistan has strengthened Pak-US bilateral relations and broadened its horizons. US Ambassador Ms. Anne W. Patterson said US government is committed to provide access to Pakistani students to higher education. She said the US has given scholarships to 5000 school going students and provided 100,000 books. 7000 students in the terrorism affected areas were also given financial assistance. US is also collaborating on 34 projects with universities and for setting up centres of excellence and curriculum and infrastructure development, she added.
