Islamabad, May 26, 2009 - United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Deputy Mission Director in Pakistan Joseph Williams underlined the need for "encouraging partnerships" in the field of education "to expand and to capitalize on our common objectives of training a new generation of leaders and problem-solvers" today during his address to the National Conference on Public-Private Partnerships for Higher Education.

The conference launched USAID's Higher Education Commission Financial Aid Development (HEC-FAD) Program. This $4 million program aims to expand and improve financial aid programs for higher education in Pakistan. HEC-FAD will build the capacity of the Higher Education Commission and eleven Pakistani universities to establish financial aid offices, develop skills and knowledge for fundraising, and establish international linkages.

"USAID's HEC-FAD program will provide Pakistani universities with useful, practical advice on fund raising," said Williams while speaking at the conclusion of the educational conference.

"We are developing a culture and system for raising private resources to improve the quality and reach of higher education institutions," he said "We look forward to hosting up to 75 of your staff on their visit to the United States, where they will meet experienced and successful professionals in both financial aid and fund raising."

Funded by USAID and managed by HEC, this two-day conference had sessions for the vice chancellors and selected relevant financial aid and development staff of 11 partner universities. The participants discussed practical measures for expanding financial aid resources for higher education, in order to build the universities' capacity to generate private funds by establishing development offices and creating international linkages.

Since 2002, the U.S. Government has provided more than $3.4 billion to Pakistan for improvements in economic growth, education, health, governance, and assistance in earthquake reconstruction.