ISLAMABAD: Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Evan Ryan highlighted the longstanding partnership in education and cultural exchange between the United States and Pakistan during his visit to the federal capital. In meeting with government officials, US exchange programme alumni and university students, Assistant Secretary Ryan underscored the US commitment to continue cooperation with Pakistan through the US-Pakistan Knowledge Corridor and expanded educational exchanges. She also interacted with alumni of US exchange programmes, who have used their knowledge and experiences to support their communities across Pakistan. While speaking at the opening of the 2016 Pakistan-US Alumni Network’s International Youth Activism Conference, Ryan said that the United States invests more money in its Fulbright programme in Pakistan than in any other country. She also highlighted the success of the university partnership programme that increased academic collaboration between US and Pakistani institutions. Assistant Secretary Ryan said, “With nearly 65 percent of the population of Pakistan under the age of 30 investing in young people is critical to Pakistan’s future,” adding that “over the last decade, we have put an incredible investment into the youth of Pakistan”. During her visit, the assistant secretary also met with the Minister of Planning Ahsan Iqbal, students and faculty at the National University of Sciences and Technology and representatives from the US Educational Foundation in Pakistan. She participated in a live Facebook chat with US Embassy Pakistan’s Facebook fans and also attended a screening of the Oscar-winning film A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness along with filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy.