On Wednesday, US Deputy Chief of Mission Andrew Schofer announced that the US government has assisted 30,000 students in Pakistan to enhance their English language skills.
Speaking to journalists after attending the “Access” Scholarship Programme ceremony, which is specifically designed for English language learning, Schofer noted that the US government has been providing scholarships to students for the past 20 years.
Schofer mentioned that the US government is also involved in other programs aimed at developing leadership qualities and improving professional skills. He expressed his pleasure in visiting Multan during his current trip.
During his address at the ceremony, Schofer praised the students’ cultural performances and emphasized the positive impact of the English Access Scholarship Programme on improving students’ English skills. “We want the students to succeed,” he said.
He added that the program, which began in 2004, has awarded scholarships to 30,000 students for language learning. Schofer expressed high hopes for the new batch of 300 students, anticipating they will soon be proficient in English. He highlighted that the English Access Scholarship Program is a significant aspect of the long-standing cooperation between the United States and Pakistan.
Vice Chancellor of Education University, Asim Saeed, also spoke at the event, praising the program for its benefits not only to the students but also to their families. He promised full cooperation for the program’s success.
Coordinator Ms. Rahat and other officials discussed the program’s features, noting that 40 teachers were selected from over 100 applicants to teach language skills to students. Out of nearly 1,000 student applicants, 300 were awarded scholarships.
The event included tableaus and cultural performances by the students, showcasing the rich heritage of South Punjab, which captivated the audience. US Consul General Ms. Kristin K Hawkins and other guests were also present.
Later, Deputy Chief of Mission Andrew Schofer visited Lutfabad Mango Farm (LMFPU). He noted that LMFPU had previously benefited from the USAID-funded FIRMS project (2009-2014) and the Agricultural Market Development (AMD) Project (2015-2019), which provided support for GlobalGAP certification and infrastructure development, including a mango packing house and cold storage. The AMD project also supplied state-of-the-art graders to 13 mango processing facilities in Punjab and Sindh.
Schofer explained that USAID’s support has helped mango growers at LMFPU expand their exports to high-end international markets by meeting grading and packaging standards.