ISLAMABAD: Australia will provide approximately 30.5 million Dollar in development assistance to Pakistan in 2008-09. Bilateral programmes focus on improving health and education, building agricultural linkages between Australia and Pakistan, and providing scholarships at Australian institutions, said a news release issued here.
The Australian government is enhancing its engagement with Pakistan and will substantially scale up its aid program in future years.
As many as eighty-three Australian Scholarships recipients were hosted a farewell party here Friday prior to their departure for Australia to undertake Masters and Doctorate-level studies in Australia during the 2009 academic year.
The scholarships have been awarded under a number of programmes offered by the Australian government, including Australian Development Scholarships, Australia Pakistan Scholarships Program, AusAID-Carnegie Mellon University Scholarships Program and the Agriculture Sector Linkages Program Awards.
Students will study in the areas of health, education, environment, agriculture, governance, information technology, business, administration and economics.
The Australian High Commissioner, Zorica McCarthy, said on the occasion the scholarships were intended for emerging leaders in Pakistan and the region.
“The Australian Scholarships programmes aim at contributing to the long-term development needs of Pakistan, promoting good governance, economic growth and human development,” McCarthy said.
“These scholarships will provide Pakistani professionals with the necessary skills and knowledge to drive change and influence development outcomes in Pakistan by obtaining relevant tertiary qualifications at high quality Australian institutions,” she added.
On completion of their studies, the scholars will return to Pakistan to contribute to the country’s development. Many previous scholarship holders have become leaders in government, the private sector and non-government organisations.
The Australian government believes that scholarships would play a vital role in building lasting relationships with countries in the region. Upto 1000 Australian Development Scholarships are awarded each year across 31 countries with scholarships awarded equally between men and women.
