More Pakistani children can now go to school, thanks to UAE initiative

The UAE Pakistan Assistance Programme is distributing 30,000 school bags to the poor, needy and orphaned students in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Needy and orphaned students in Pakistan are being given 30,000 schoolbags by the UAE Pakistan Assistance Programme.
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Needy and orphaned students in Pakistan are being given 30,000 schoolbags by the UAE Pakistan Assistance Programme.

The initiative, ordered by the President, Sheikh Khalifa, to support education in the country, will provide bags to boys and girls in 25 cities and towns in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Abdullah Al Ghafli, the programme's director, said the initiative was part of the UAE's efforts to assist students from low-income families in pursuing their studies.

Many parents in the province, he said, were otherwise reluctant to send their children to school because of the costs involved.

He said the waterproof bags were designed to last for more than three years and each one contained basic stationery.

Mr Al Ghafli said this was the second year of the initiative and he hoped to build on the success of the first year, which had generated a positive response.

A survey showed student attendance had increased since the initiative began and that morale had been bolstered.

The Pakistan Assistance Programme is also building 53 modern schools, colleges and technical institutes.

Last year, said Mr Al Ghafli, 48 educational institutions were completed and began accepting students. He said the programme had made a qualitative leap in the educational sector.