For rebuilding flood-damaged primary and secondary schools in Balochistan, the US has approved at least $10 million through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). US Consul General in Karachi William Martin disclosed this during a visit on Thursday to the Dureji village near Karachi where Balochistan Assembly Speaker Mohammad Aslam Bhootani received the ambassador. USAID Deputy Regional Director Randy Hatfield, Public Affairs Officer Kevin Murakami and Political Officer Anne Bennett accompanied the consul general on his visit to Dureji. “The US government has approved $10 million to help rebuild flood-damaged primary and secondary schools in Balochistan through the USAID,” Martin told the speaker. “These funds will have a tremendous impact on education by rebuilding scores of schools for the future generation of Balochistan.”
“The initiative will also provide safe drinking water and temporary classrooms so that students can continue their educational activities uninterrupted,” the US diplomat said. On the consul general’s visit to small dams of Uthandro and Thalnga, the Balochistan Irrigation Department executive director briefed him on the structure of the dams and their benefits, especially the agriculture and livestock sectors. Martin and Bhootani then visited the Girls Model Primary School in Dureji. Later, the Balochistan Assembly speaker hosted a lunch at his home for the ambassador, where elders of the Bhootani tribe and government officials were also present.
Speaking on the occasion, the US consul general said that it was a pleasure to visit Balochistan and he was able to enjoy the generous hospitality of the Baloch people. “I thank my friend [Bhootani] for inviting me to visit him in his hometown,” he added.
