KHAIRPUR: US Consul General in Karachi Brian Heath has said that his country is committed to its long-term partnership with Pakistan for the advancement of education and will continue to extend assistance in developing strong educational institutions in this country.

He was speaking at a ceremony held at the Shah Abdul Latif University (Salu) here on Tuesday evening after inaugurating the institution’s faculty of education building funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Mr Heath said that $1.9 million funding for the project was a symbol of US resolve to promote education in Pakistan.

Over the years, the US and Pakistan governments had been working closely together to build many higher education institutions that had since become the premier centres of knowledge and learning, he said.

The ceremony was attended by Sindh Senior Minister for Education and Literacy Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, Salu vice chancellor Prof Dr Parveen Shah, Education Secretary Dr Fazlullah Pechuho, Highter Education Commission member Prof Dr Ghulam Raza Bhatti and a large number of faculty and students of the university.

Mr Khuhro told the audience that Salu was imparting quality education to students from across the upper Sindh area. He said the Sindh government was extending every possible assistance and cooperation to Salu as Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah desired that higher education was provided to students at their doorstep.

The minister appreciated Salu for its commendable endeavours towards producing the much-needed highly qualified faculty. He also acknowledged the efforts being made by Salu VC Prof Dr Parveen Shah with commitment to promoting education.

Speaking at the ceremony, Prof Shah thanked the USAID for selecting her institution as its partner in promoting the cause of education in the upper Sindh region. “Provision of such an excellent infrastructure in the shape of the faculty of education building offers a world-class facility to nurture teachers in order to improve the standard of education in Sindh,” she said.

USAID Deputy Mission Director in Pakistan Cathy Moore also spoke.

Education Secretary Dr Fazlullah Pechuho lauded the role of the USAID in promoting education in Sindh and said the four-year BEd degree to be offered by Salu would cater to the academic needs of the students coming from the areas of upper Sindh.

Prof Dr Ghulam Raza Bhatti reaffirmed the HEC resolve to support research works and development of the universities in the province. He said that various projects in the fields of energy, food security and water management were being executed at universities in the country with the collaboration of the USAID.

HEC Director Ateequr Rehman Khuwaro informed the audience that his institution would launch various initiatives like Sindh Research Support, Best Teacher Award, Shah Abdul Latif declamation contest and leadership training.

Earlier, Prof Dr Ghulam Ali Mallah briefed Mr Heath about the salient features of the new faculty and the facilities made available at the building.

He said the Faculty of Education was spread over an area of 15,679 square feet and comprised six classrooms, three seminar halls, library, laboratory, learning resource centre, multipurpose hall and faculty lounge. “It is the sixth such faculty in the country and the third in Sindh,” he said.

USAID has provided $15 million for the construction and rehabilitation of the six buildings and in the next phase, 10 more would be built in different parts of the country.

Salo pro-vice chancellors Prof Dr Miandad Zardari and Prof Dr Lutfullah Mangi, deans of various faculties and Sukkur Commissioner Mohammad Abbas Baloch also attended the ceremony.

Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2014