The US Ambassador, Ryan C Crocker, has said that Pakistani soldiers have given precious sacrifices for the cause of peace and eliminating terrorism in the region. They are waging a crusade against those enemies who are playing with the lives of innocent people and are creating unrest on the Afghanistan-Pakistani border.
He said: "We pay salute to them for the very important task to effectively face this enemy with determination and courage. The strikes against the Karzai government and coalition forces are being done largely and this is a fact that Pakistan is facing strikes on its side of border along the Durand Line but there is need for tackling the enemy with unity."
Talking to journalists here on his arrival on Friday to sign 'English Access' agreement with an NGO to create language skills among 300 government schools students in American style to compete with English medium schools. About political atmosphere Pakistan, he said in a light vein that the "sweetest Multan is hot and smiling".
He said the people of Pakistan should rely upon their own shoulders and solve their issues and problems on their own, instead of depending upon others. He said that this area has much potential and it is not less important region than other parts of Pakistan.
At the 'English Access'ACCESS agreement signing ceremony, Crocker said that the extraordinary success of the 'Lahore Access' English pilot project had encouraged it widely in expanding the program in Multan.
The 'Better World Foundation' (BMF) organised the ceremony here at government Moonlight High School to sign agreement between US Embassy and BWF. The Ambassador said that at least 300 government high schools students would be given English language skills to compete for college admissions and later on in the job market.
He said that opportunity of learning English through a program associated with Lahore US consulate would also provide a window to those bright students on American values, culture besides enhancing trust and understanding between the two nations. The 'Access'micro-scholarships would open the door for those students to participate in many American educational and cultural programs such as Fulbright scholarship program, the ambassador said, wishing success for 'Better World Foundation' in carrying out this important project.
He said that the US Embassy and Multan-based NGO, 'Better World Foundation' had signed a $198,891 grant agreement that aimed to teach English to 300 students from government schools in Multan over a two-year period under the 'Access English Micro-Scholarship Program'.
The US Ambassador signed the agreement on behalf of US Embassy at Government Moonlight High School, while Muhammad Arif Malik, Project Director, represented BWF.
The 'Access English Micro-Scholarship Program' is an initiative of US State Department to provide an American style classroom experience to underprivileged youth around the world. The goal of this two-year program is to adequately prepare bright students in written and spoken English so that they can compete more effectively with students who have studied in English-medium schools for admission to Pakistani colleges and universities and improve their ability to obtain good jobs upon graduation.
BWF board of governors member Mehmood Qureshi said that "masses believe in democracy which cannot be achieved with out education". He said that Multan is an important city, important centre for international investment, and the region contributes 85 percent cotton and 69 percent export earning from cotton.
On his arrival, Muhammad Arif Malik, language master M Jehangir and members of the board of governors of BWF welcomed Ambassador Crocker at the Moonlight High School, and two students presented him a bouquet.
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