U.S. Ambassador Richard Olson visited Muzaffarabad today to highlight the United States' support for bilateral trade opportunities, educational exchange, and development programs in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Ambassador Olson's visit, his first to the region, was an opportunity to renew ties with the government leadership of AJK and to meet with local residents. "Today's visit is an important opportunity for me to see the enduring partnership of the United States with the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir," Olson said.

 

Jointly with AJK's President, Olson broke ground on a new building that will house the University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Faculty of Education at the Muzaffarabad old city campus. "This state-of-the-art building - which will include eight classrooms, a computer lab, a teaching lab, library, and multipurpose hall - will accommodate approximately 300 students. We believe that a world-class learning facility will help attract the best and brightest students to pursue careers as teachers."

 

The Faculty of Education building at the University of AJK is part of the comprehensive education program that the United States supports alongside the government of Pakistan for the entire country. This program includes the $160 million Pakistan Reading Project; building and repairing over 850 schools; establishing Centers for Advanced Studies in Water, Agriculture and Food Security, and Energy at four Pakistani universities; a $1 million University Partnership program between the University of Azad, Jammu and Kashmir and San Jose State University in Linguistics and English Education; expanding English skills for more than 5,000 low-income students; and awarding more than 4,800 scholarships for university students to pursue education through the Pakistan-USAID Merit and Needs Based Scholarship Program.