Federal Minister for Education and
Professional Training Engr. Muhammad Baligh Ur Rehman attended as Chief Guest
ceremony of agreement signing between UNESCO and the government of Italy to
implement a two-year project titled “Support to girls right to education and
safeguarding cultural heritage through education in Pakistan”.
Addressing the ceremony, the federal
minister said that Girls Right to Education Program was joint initiative of
government of Pakistan and UNESCO which is aimed at to promote girls access and
retention to education.
He said that the government of
Pakistan is committed to promote education in the country and improve standard
of education including girls primary education, adding that we have
phenomenally increased funding for education sector.
Balig Ur Rehman said that this program
is not only targeting girls education but also covering cultural aspects in
districts Bahawalpur and Swat.
He said that our net enrolment has
increased and the government is committed to end gender gap regarding enrolment
between girls and boys in Pakistan.
The Federal Minister said that UNESCO
is doing great job and this program would yield good results.
Later the agreement of approximately
USD 1.7 million was signed by Italian Ambassador to Pakistan Stefano Pontecorvo
, Ms. Santa Mole, Head of Italian Cooperation and Ms. Vibeke Jensen, UNESCO
Representative.
The project has two components: the
first one on Education which aims to support the efforts of Government of
Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in increasing access, retention and improving the
quality of girls education. Districts Bahawalpur and Swat are the focus
districts.
The second component of the project is
aimed at supporting the efforts of the government of Pakistan in protection of
cultural heritage.
