Lahore:The final education and health stocktakes marking five years of close collaboration between the UK’s Department for International Development (DfID) and the Punjab Government was held here.
In a ceremony in Lahore, the Head of DfID Pakistan, Joanna Reid, and Chief Minister Punjab, Shahbaz Sharif, took stock of the progress achieved across the province since 2013.
Mr Sharif joined by videoconference from London, where he had met the Secretary of State for International Development, Ms Penny Mordaunt.
The stocktakes are held quarterly to review progress against the specific, measurable targets in education, health, water and clean cities.
The Head of DfID in Pakistan, Joanna Reid, said: “I am delighted to see how the tremendous efforts made by the Government of Punjab have reaped such rewards in education and health. 1.6 million additional children are now in school, and 300,000 more teachers. Immunisation coverage has increased dramatically, from 62.3% in 2014 to 84% today.
These results are only a couple of the highlights. I am proud of the role that UK aid has in countries like Pakistan, and I see first-hand how it is helping to get girls into schools, prevent disease, reduce malnutrition, and ultimately get people out of poverty.”