US Deputy Chief of Mission Andrew Schofer announced that the US government had supported 30,000 Pakistani students in enhancing their English language skills via the “Access” Scholarship Program ceremony designed for English language learning.
Schofer highlighted that the US has offered these educational scholarships for the past 20 years. He enthusiastically supported additional programs to foster leadership qualities and enhance professional skills. Reflecting on his visit to Multan, Schofer shared his pleasure in experiencing the city and praised the cultural performances by students during the ceremony.
Addressing the attendees, he commended the English Access Scholarship program, which began in 2004, for significantly improving students’ English skills. Schofer voiced his optimism for the program’s latest cohort of 300 students, anticipating their future proficiency in English. The program, he noted, is a key element of the long-standing educational cooperation between the United States and Pakistan.
Vice Chancellor of Education University Asim Saeed also spoke at the event. He lauded the program’s impact on students and their families and promised continued support for its success.
The event coordinators, including Ms. Rahat, outlined the program’s structure, which utilizes the expertise of 40 selected teachers from an initial pool of over 100 applicants. They also mentioned that out of nearly 1,000 student applicants, 300 received scholarships.
The ceremony featured performances showcasing southern Punjab’s rich culture, delighting the audience, including US Consul General Kristin K. Hawkins and other dignitaries.
Later, Schofer visited the Lutfabad Mango Farm (LMFPU), which benefited from the USAID-funded FIRMS project from 2009 to 2014 and the Agricultural Market Development (AMD) Project from 2015 to 2019. These initiatives helped local mango farms obtain GlobalGAP certification and establish essential infrastructure such as a mango packing house and cold storage.
The AMD project also equipped 13 mango processing facilities in Punjab and Sindh with advanced graders, aiding mango growers in meeting international market standards for grading and packaging and thus expanding their export capabilities.
