RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: Pakistan has considerable potential to develop with its major strength lies in its 60 percent youth population to propel it on path of self-reliance, said Michael Hryshchyshyn, Director USAID here on Saturday.

He was speaking at a luncheon meeting, organised in his honour by Rotary Club of Karachi Centennial. Director USAID spoke extensively on the topic” Helping Pakistan on path of self-reliance”.

Recounting the assistance of USAID in various sectors, especially in Sindh, USAID official believed that foreign assistance can drive the growth, however these are indigenous resources, which make the real difference.

Pakistan has all the traits of becoming an economically strong and viable country, especially the human resource in the form of high youth force, whose proper exploitation can ensure sustainable development.

USAID official also talked about the energy sector of the country and his organization to Pakistan in this sector. He especially mentioned that renewable energy resources in Sindh and Balochistan.

He said that USAID helped financially to lay the transmission line for adding the renewable energy produced in Jhampir Sindh in the national grid. He also identified the problems in distribution and transmission system of electricity and vowed to assist the country more in future to resolve the issues in this regard.

Director USAID also talked about the contribution of his organization in education sector in the province and said that it has been engaged in 600 schools in Sindh including Karachi to develop and upgrade them. He also vowed to do more in this sector and stated Sindh is leading ahead in USAID-assisted education projects compared to other provinces of the country.

Michael termed public-private partnership model a viable one so that private sector can also be engaged in the development process. He said that vocational education training is also another area, which USAID is focusing in the province.

He also shared his experiences while working in Pakistan and told the audience that he has been witnessed to some historical and tragic events in the country, especially the assassination of Benazir Bhutto in 2007 and transition of power from military to civilians in 2008. He felt that Pakistan has gained much in various sector over the last several years.

Navaid M Khan, Charter President Rotary Club of Karachi Centennial in his welcome address presented the profile of Director USAID.