ISLAMABAD, Dec 12: US Ambassador to Pakistan Nancy Powell has said the United States is satisfied with the progress made by Pakistan in education sector.

The ambassador expressed these views while talking to Federal Education Minister Zobaida Jalal here on Thursday.

The ambassador said the US and its aid agencies would continue to support the government of Pakistan in the education sector. She hoped that USAID and the Ministry of Education would work closely for improvement of education standard in Pakistan.

Ms Powell told the minister that she would urge the US Congress and all donor agencies, including USAID, to continue their support and assistance for the Pakistan’s education sector. She said the USAID was satisfied with the spending of grants and aid given to the education ministry.

Ms Powell, who was heading a delegation, including Mark Ward, the country representative of USAID in Pakistan, discussed progress on implementation of US Strategy Objective Agreement, signed on August 9, 2002.

The education minister, Zobaida Jalal, briefed the US ambassador about the ongoing projects and future plans for improvement of education standard in the country.

She said the government was making all-out efforts to introduce new concepts in the education system. She told the envoy that steps were being taken to eliminate child labour and bring the children to primary schools.

The minister said Pakistan would meet the target of Education for All by 2015, which would be a big achievement. She also briefed the ambassador about the introduction of human rights as a subject in schools.

She said under the Education Sector Reforms, the primary objective of the government was to make education accessible to all in the country. She said funds were being given directly to districts.

Later, officials of the ministry gave a statistical and comprehensive presentation on education sector to the ambassador and other members of the delegation.