WASHINGTON, March 6: Federal Education Minister Zubeida Jalal is in Washington for a round of talks with administration officials on United States aid programmes for Pakistan’s education sector.

The Bush administration has undertaken a multi-year $100 million programme aimed at promoting educational reforms as part of its $600 million economic package for Pakistan for the current financial year. In the post-Sept 11 scenario, both the US and Pakistan have underlined the need for modernizing the traditional systems of education in Madaris, which have been seen as contributing to the general trend towards extremism and intolerance.

Ms Jalal has come to attend a World Bank sponsored conference, but is due to meet Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Christina Rocca, other senior officials, members of Congress, and brief USAID officials on Pakistan’s education plans. She will also meet Laura Bush at the White House on Thursday. Mrs Bush, herself a teacher, has been closely involved with educational initiatives in the US.