Islamabad, April 6, 2011 - The U.S. Embassy hosted a workshop Wednesday at the National Library of Pakistan to teach public speaking and provide debate tips and tools to 50 students from public universities in the Islamabad/Rawalpindi area. The students learned life skills that will be important throughout their future careers.

The event was led by Assistant Cultural Affairs Officer Jason Seymour, Marketing Communications Specialist Samir Anwar Butt (University of Montana alumnus), and Lahore Grammar School Debate Coach Rana Amaar Farooq (Summer United States Institute alumnus).

"The United States has a strong commitment to promoting education and helping students discover and sharpen their talents, whatever they may be," said Seymour.

The U.S. Embassy, in conjunction with a large network of active alumni of American government-funded exchange programs, conducts many events designed to promote education including college fairs and events with Pakistani and U.S. speakers. The Embassy in Islamabad has the U.S. government's largest educational and cultural program in the world. These programs are important components of the American commitment to provide educational opportunities for Pakistani students, increase people-to-people ties, and build a partnership with Pakistan based on mutual trust and respect.