The US Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director Dr Andrew Sisson and US Consul General Nina Fite led the groundbreaking ceremony at the new USAID-funded Women’s Hostel at the Forman Christian College (FCC) on Tuesday. Dr Sisson operated an excavator for breaking the ground on this $6 million (543,600,000 Rs) construction project. By providing a secure all-female on-campus residence, the United States is supporting and encouraging women from across Pakistan to pursue higher education. “The United States Government is fully committed to supporting and strengthening education in Pakistan, particularly closing the gender gap in higher education,” remarked Dr Sisson. He added, “Education is one of the most important means of empowering women with the knowledge, skills, and self-confidence necessary to participate fully in society.”
FCC Rector-designate Dr James Tebbe praised the women’s hostel project saying, “The new women’s hostel will further help FC College recruit nationally and provide a secure environment for female students that meets the cultural standards of Pakistan.”
Other speakers at the event included female student representatives from Sukkur and Chitral, who expressed their appreciation for the project. The students said it will go a long way towards empowering women from all across Pakistan.
