STORY: Pakistani girls pursue dreams at China-Pakistan school
SHOOTING DATE: Sept. 16, 2024
DATELINE: Dec. 16, 2024
LENGTH: 00:01:40
LOCATION: Islamabad
CATEGORY: EDUCATION

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the school
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Urdu): PARVEEN NAWAZ, Headmistress
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Urdu): SAIBA ASGHAR ALI, Eighth-grade student
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (Urdu): TAHIRA AKHTAR, Eighth-grade student

STORYLINE:

Launched in 2013, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) links Gwadar Port in Pakistan with Kashgar in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. 

A flagship project of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, CPEC's first phase highlights energy, transportation, and industrial cooperation. In its new phase, CPEC is expanding to fields including agriculture and livelihood.

The China-Pakistan Government Middle School in Faqeer colony, Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province, opened its doors in 2015 for girls with few educational opportunities.

The school, which is funded by Chinese donations, now boasts two teaching buildings and several additional facilities.
   
The school has more than 550 students and has become a preferred choice of parents.

Several teachers from the school were awarded scholarships to study in China, further enhancing the quality of education.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Urdu): PARVEEN NAWAZ, Headmistress
"CPEC has provided these children with educational opportunities that were once denied to them due to poverty. Now, their dreams have a chance to become a reality."

SOUNDBITE 2 (Urdu): SAIBA ASGHAR ALI, Eighth-grade student 
"I give thanks to this school built by China. There was no decent school in Gwadar, where I lived before, and many girls like me could not receive an education. Now, I can learn a lot of knowledge in this school and become a useful person."

SOUNDBITE 3 (Urdu): TAHIRA AKHTAR, Eighth-grade student  
"Thanks to China for giving us the opportunity to receive education."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Islamabad.
(XHTV)