WASHINGTON, D.C. - First Lady Michelle Obama announced today a new commitment, in coordination with the Government of Pakistan, to advance girls' education in Pakistan as part of the Let Girls Learn initiative. USAID's Let Girls Learn in Pakistan program will provide $70 million to new and ongoing USAID programs that benefit more than 200,000 adolescent girls aged 10-19. The announcement was made during an event at the White House with Mrs. Kalsoom Nawaz Sharif, spouse of Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, and Mrs. Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the daughter of Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. 

Let Girls Learn will seek opportunities to foster public-private partnerships and collaborate with other development partners to advance girls' education and empowerment. The Let Girls Learn/Pakistan program will serve as a platform and catalyst for broader political and social commitment to strengthen adolescent girls' education and empowerment in Pakistan. Young women in Pakistan face barriers and lack of access to education opportunities from an early age due to poverty, cultural norms, and geographic isolation.

"Educated girls become women who strengthen their families, communities, and countries," said USAID Acting Administrator Alfonso E. Lenhardt. "By increasing access to educational opportunities during the critical time of adolescence, this important initiative will be transformative for Pakistan, empowering young women to overcome barriers and lift themselves out of poverty. We look forward to continuing to work with the Government of Pakistan and our partners around the world to ensure girls everywhere get the education they deserve."

Let Girls Learn is a U.S. Government initiative that involves the Department of State, USAID, the Peace Corps, and others to ensure adolescent girls get the education they deserve. The new Let Girls Learn in Pakistan program is a unique opportunity for the United States to work with the Government of Pakistan and civil society leaders to empower adolescent girls in Pakistan.