ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has reiterated the government's commitment to providing support to the United Nations International Children Emergency Fund (Unicef) for launching public welfare projects in Pakistan.
The assurance was given during a meeting with Unicef's representative in Pakistan, Abdullah Fadil.
In the meeting, Mr Fadil briefed the prime minister on Unicef's initiatives across various sectors in Pakistan. He said that over the past five years, approximately US$1 billion worth of projects had been implemented, covering humanitarian aid, clean drinking water, food supply, education, and health.
PM Kakar commended Unicef Pakistan for the successful implementation of numerous public welfare projects. He emphasised the crucial role played by Unicef in the anti-polio drive, noting a positive change in public perception due to collaborative efforts between the Pakistani government and UN agency.
Appreciating Unicef initiatives in the education sector in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, despite criticism from India, the prime minister urged Abdullah Fadil to devise a new and effective strategy for providing education to out-of-school children in Pakistan.
PM Kakar also supported Unicef's steps in introducing modern technology in the education sector of underdeveloped areas in the country. He asserted that use of tablets to provide state-of-the-art information to students in remote areas could significantly reduce the illiteracy rate in the country.