MULTAN
Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi (ITA) and Dubai Cares hosted a discussion forum for the Dubai Cares team, led by Mr Tariq Mohammad Saleh Al Gurg, and Punjab government education officers in Ramada Hotel, Multan. The Country Program Officer Dubai Cares, Nada Al Hajjri, and Communications Associate Dubai Cares, Sara Mohammed Al Boom, Muhammad Ishfaq Sahab, Executive District Officer Education Multan and Aqeedat Hussain Somro, District Education Officer Muzaffargarh.
Dubai Cares is working extensively in Pakistan, reaching out to 4028 schools (528 schools in four districts of Southern Punjab) and 1,035,300 beneficiaries since 2008. Dubai Cares partnered with Oxfam GB and Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi (ITA) in 2008 for its first project titled “Enhancing Girls Enrolment in Remote Areas of Pakistan in South Punjab”. It extended its support to ITA for an emergency program “Enhancement of Girls Enrolment and Retention in Flood Affected Areas” in 2013 and upon completion of the program, it resolved to expand its footprint across Pakistan with this third ongoing partner program, ‘Improving learning outcomes, enrolment and transitions from ECE to primary education especially for girls and vulnerable groups in Pakistan’. Teachers without Frontiers is a continuous professional development program  under the third phase of Dubai Cares Program to empower teachers particularly, in remote areas, through expansion of their knowledge, skills and approaches via a wide range of innovative learning opportunities.
The discussion began with an overview of the status of education in southern Punjab, briefed by Muhammad Ishfaq and other government representatives from Multan, Muzzafarghar, Rahim Yar Khan and Bhahawalpur, highlighting the efforts of Dubai Cares and ITA as a strong implementing partner of the government.
It was followed by a short progress update of Dubai Cares Program in Pakistan, delivered by Beala Raza Jamil, Director Programs, ITA. She commemorated Dubai Cares for making such a bold commitment to promote education in Pakistan. On behalf of Dubai Cares and the Government of UAE, Mr. Tariq commented that Dubai Cares Program in Pakistan is one of the leading projects to support education in Pakistan, and would always offer their support to advance such initiatives across the country. Zahid Saleem Gondol, District Coordination Officer Multan gave closing remarks and closed the discussion forum.