Pakistan and the United States on Wednesday discussed enhancing bilateral co-operation in the education sector with top education officials from both sides expressing a firm desire to improve linkages.
Speaking prior to entering into the strategic dialogue on education Lieutenant General Javed Ashraf Qazi (Retd), Minister of Education, said Pakistan wants to raise the standard of education for carving out a strong future for the country.
"We want a strong country, we need to harvest technology, and in all these endeavours we welcome the support the United States has extended us and we hope to make further progress in this regard," he stated alongside US Education secretary Margaret Spellings at the Department of State.
The two sides will discuss students exchange programmes, teacher training, capacity building in technical school at the first session of the strategic dialogue on education which was agreed during President Bush's visit to Pakistan in March 2006.
US Education Secretary Margret Spellings said education and development of human capital are challenges for all nations and added the United States attaches great importance to its relationship with Pakistan. She said President Bush has made a commitment to President Pervez Musharraf for co-operation.
Spellings pledged her department's commitment to help Pakistan in success of its efforts to improve education. The US official noted that US has the largest Fulbright scholarship programme in Pakistan.