SUKKUR: US Consul General Grace Shelton welcomed 50 new students to the six-month-long ‘English Works’ Programme at the Lincoln Corner in Khairpur. The programme, funded through Mission Pakistan’s Regional English Language Programs Office, focuses on enhancing business communication skills, including professional level English, to improve students’ employment and educational prospects, and in many cases, their ability to support their families. At the same time, the programme introduces youth to the US values such as volunteerism, cultural and religious pluralism. In her address to the students, Consul General Shelton said, “Whether you are doing academic research, participating in an international conference or making a business deal, English will be key to your success, and that is why the ‘English Works’ programme is so important.” The ceremony was held at the Lincoln Corner in Khairpur, one of 18 Lincoln Corners across Pakistan which are run by the American Embassy. A Lincoln Corner is a resource centre and event space hosted in partnership with Pakistani institutions – public libraries, universities, and cultural centers – which provides a platform for open dialogue between Pakistanis and Americans, promotes mutual understanding, and strengthens people-to-people ties through programs.