15 January 2004	Thursday	22 Ziqa'ad 1424

QUETTA, Jan 14: United States Ambassador to Pakistan Nancy Powell has said that under the USAID programme her country will provide assistance for improvement in the schools of the four districts of Balochistan.

She stated this while talking to Balochistan Governor Owais Ahmed Ghani here on Wednesday during her meeting with him. She exchanged views with him on various matters of mutual interests including the development projects being launched in the province.

She said that besides improvement in schools, training facilities would also be provided to teachers in these districts. The governor informed the US diplomat of effects of drought in the province, saying it had badly affected about one-third of the population.

"The provincial government, despite lack of resources, is taking effective steps for the betterment of the affected people," he said. "We are in dire need of cooperation from the US and other friendly countries to cope with the problems being faced by the province."

The governor also informed the ambassador about the steps being taken by the provincial government for eradication of poppy cultivation and drug smuggling.He, however, said that the government could not succeed 100 per cent in this regard unless the same measures were taken from the other side of the border. He expressed the hope that the United States would use its influence in this regard and provide assistance to the government to cope with the drug problem.