The US National Security Adviser, Stephen Hadley, visited Khyber Agency on Tuesday where he, accompanied by NWFP Governor Khalil-ur-Rehman and US Ambassador Ryan C Crocker, inaugurated a two-storey building of Government Primary School, Soor Kamar, near Jamrud.
The school is the first of 130 schools that are being constructed under FATA schools rehabilitation and construction project funded jointly by US and Japanese governments, in collaboration with Governor's FATA Secretariat. USAID grant for the program is $4.7 million whereas that of the Japanese government's grant is $2.5 million.
Each school, with double-storey, building will have 7 class rooms besides teachers' room, and sanitary and drinking water facilities.
NWFP Governor welcomed the guests to the tribal area of Khyber Agency and thanked the US and Japanese governments for funding the rehabilitation of schools projects in FATA. Terming it a momentous occasion, Khalil said that as a result of the coordinated efforts years-long backwardness of the tribal areas would be removed.
He also highlighted the efforts of Pakistan government for removing the backwardness of FATA and putting this area on path of progress and development. He particularly referred to development in education sector, saying that the government had earmarked a major portion of its annual development outlay for promotion of education in FATA.
The US National Security Adviser said that education was the most important aspect of social development strategy because it laid the foundation of future. He said he was pleased to visit the school and meet the students.
He congratulated all those associated with the project, saying that the people of FATA should be very proud that their government is striving to provide better school facilities for teachers and students of the area.
On arrival at the school Stephan Hadley and Ambassador Crocker were received by Governor Khalil-ur-Rehman and other officials.