Michelle Obama's effort to help educate millions of adolescent girls in developing countries has picked up support from Pakistan.
In conjunction with a White House meeting today between President Barack Obama and Pakistan President Nawaz Sharif, the first lady's office announced that the Pakistani government has committed to double spending on education at home, from 2 per cent to 4 per cent of GDP by 2018.
Pakistan will also enroll more girls in school and provide more female teachers in the Muslim country.
In return, the US Agency for International Development is committing USD 70 million to help educate more than 200,000 additional Pakistani girls by building or repairing schools in conflict zones, and providing training, scholarships and internships, among other measures.
Susan Markham, senior coordinator for gender equality and women's empowerment at USAID, said girls are less likely to attend primary school and are more likely to face barriers to access and completing an education. She said educating girls has ripple effects that go beyond helping just the individual.
"Empowering girls and ensuring them access to quality education has long-term transformational benefits for their future, for their families and communities and for Pakistan's economic prosperity overall," Markham told reporters during a conference call to preview the announcement.
Mrs Obama was announcing Pakistan's commitment later today, accompanied by the prime minister's wife, Kalsoom Nawaz Sharif, and daughter, Maryam Nawaz Sharif.
Obama and the first lady launched the Let Girls Learn initiative this year to help more than 60 million adolescent girls around the world who don't attend school, and they have been urging world leaders to join the effort. Since March, Mrs Obama has traveled Japan, Cambodia and Britain to promote the initiative and recognise new partnerships.
Pakistan joins South Korea, Britain and Japan in announcing pledges of money and other support to further girls' education in their countries.
