CONGRESSMAN LIEU STATEMENT ON NEW U.S. – PAKISTAN PARTNERSHIP TO ADVANCE GIRLS EDUCATION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 22, 2015

WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D | Los Angeles County)  issued the following statement regarding the White House’s announcement that the United States and Pakistan have pledged a new partnership to further adolescent girls’ education in Pakistan. The Government of Pakistan, as announced by Prime Minister Sharif in Oslo in July, will double spending for education in Pakistan, from two to four percent of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2018 and increase girls’ enrollment in school.  In addition, the United States, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is committing $70 million and will work jointly with the Government of Pakistan and other partners to help educate and empower more than 200,000 additional adolescent girls across Pakistan.

“The White House’s announcement of a new partnership between the United States and Pakistan to advance adolescent girls’ education is fantastic news.  The simple fact is that nations – large, small and everywhere in between – thrive when educational and economic opportunities for women and girls abound.  This announcement comes on the heels of a productive visit by Prime Minister Sharif to the United States.  Pakistan is a strategic partner of the United States and I look forward to continued work with my colleagues in Congress on ways to strengthen the bonds between us.”

Congressman Lieu is committed to furthering the urgent cause of education at home and abroad.  This past June,  the Congressman co-authored an op-ed for CNN with Hugh Evans, CEO of the Global Poverty Project, calling for a historic level of Congressional funding for the Global Partnership for Education.  The op-ed can be found here.

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