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The Government of Japan grants US$ 163,165 for Construction of Girls School in Okara, Punjab

PRESS RELEASE N0: JPNEMPAK 12-03

Islamabad: 25th January, 2012

The Government of Japan has decided to extend financial support of US$ 163,165 (approx. Rs 14.0 million) to the Ameer Begum Welfare Trust (ABWT) for the construction of Girls School in Okara, Punjab.

The agreement for the project was signed on Wednesday, 25th January 2012, between Mr. Hiroshi OE, the Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan and Ms. Rubina Shaheen Wattoo, Chairperson of the ABWT, at the Japanese Ambassador’s residence in Islamabad. H.E. Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo, Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan, was also present at the signing ceremony as a chief guest.

The grant will be utilized for the construction of school building, procurement of school material and play ground equipment. Free education and educational material such as uniforms and textbooks will be provided to the students to support their enrollment and learning. This project will provide an equal learning opportunity to the most vulnerable segment of the society in Okara and its surroundings. In addition, this project will contribute to improve the education standards in the project area with free education to approximately 300 female students. It is also hoped that the number of female students with access to education will keep increasing in the area.

At the signing ceremony, Ambassador OE stressed that promoting girl’s education is one of the priorities in Japan’s assistance policy towards Pakistan. He expressed his hope that this project would contribute to stimulate active woman’s participation in the society and improve their social status in Pakistan. He believes that such assistance by the Government and people of Japan will further cement the relationship and friendship that exist between Japan and Pakistan.