Pointing to the role of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in this endeavor and others, Ambassador Khan termed USAID “a partner of Pakistan for decades” that has contributed directly and indirectly towards the economic development of Pakistan especially in the healthcare and education sectors

 

Pakistani Women Are “Trailblazers Leading from the Front”
By Elaine Pasquini

Washington: “Pakistan has made impressive strides in the past several decades with regard to women’s education and empowerment,” said Masood Khan, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, during a December 1, 2023, signing ceremony at the embassy of a Letter of Intent between Fatima Jinnah Women’s University (FJWU) and Delaware State University (DSU). “We have produced this enormous human capital which is visible in our parliament, judiciary, civil services and civil society.”

“Women in Pakistan are becoming confident entrepreneurs in education, healthcare and tech sectors and their representation in the business ecosystems is increasing day by day,” he added. “They are the trailblazers and are leading from the front.”

The signing of a Letter of Intent would establish a framework for collaboration between the Fatima Jinnah Women’s University, an esteemed public university located in Rawalpindi, and Delaware State University, a privately governed state-assisted university in Dover, Delaware, to foster a more vibrant academic experience for students, faculty and staff that will encourage mutual engagement at all institutional levels.

The important areas of collaboration between the two educational institutions are diversity and inclusive workshops, collaborative research on minority issues, student exchange programs, joint community outreach programs, and networking events for minority academic professionals.

Pointing to the role of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in this endeavor and others, Ambassador Khan termed USAID “a partner of Pakistan for decades” that has contributed directly and indirectly towards the economic development of Pakistan especially in the healthcare and education sectors. The ambassador also recalled the massive support extended by Washington, and particularly USAID, to last year’s devastating floods in Pakistan.

“USAID not only helped us directly by contributing to Pakistan’s flood relief efforts but also used its convening power to mobilize other countries in reconstruction efforts later on,” he said. 

Recalling the visits of Samantha Power, the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, and Isobel Coleman, Deputy Administrator for Policy and Programming, to the remotest of the flood-hit areas of Pakistan, Ambassador Khan thanked the agency for showing solidarity with the people of Pakistan.

In his remarks, Mr Clinton D White, counselor for USAID, underscored the importance of the Letter of Intent that celebrates women’s empowerment, diversity and inclusivity. “We are gathered here not only to celebrate partnerships, service to communities, and giving voices to everyone but this event marks the beginning of the next phase of working together,” he said.

Professor Dr Rahama Gill, academician and head of the delegation from FJWU, termed the agreement a generous espousal of USAID that she said “would go a long way in establishing cohesion with other universities as well.”

In their remarks, Ms Zeineh Salahi, Deputy Assistant Administrator at USAID, and Dr Antonio Boyle, senior vice president for Strategic Enrollment Management and International Affairs at Delaware State University, said that sharing resources, knowledge and experiences, would amplify the impact of any initiatives and inspire positive change. The collaborative efforts would not only benefit the minority populations and institutions within Pakistan and the United States but also contribute to the broader goal of creating a more inclusive and equitable society.

A panel discussion comprising participants from FJWU and USAID was also held with a focus on proposed initiatives and how the institutions can work together to create a more inclusive and supportive academic environment.

An upcoming mega-conference in Pakistan in February 2024 with the participation of 18 women’s universities from both Pakistan and the United States was announced.

In conclusion, Ambassador Khan congratulated both FJWU and DSU on this historic moment, wishing them luck for the anticipated conference in Pakistan.

The event concluded with the screening of the USAID-funded Pakistani drama Sar-e-Rah that portrays the resilience of Pakistani women.

(Elaine Pasquini is a freelance journalist. Her reports appear in the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs and Nuze.Ink.)