by Misbah Saba Malik
GWADAR, Pakistan, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Saiba Asghar Ali, an eighth-grade student at the China-Pakistan Government Middle School in Faqeer colony, Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province, dreamed of becoming a doctor since childhood. Due to financial hindrances and lack of education opportunities for girls in her colony, it was a goal she feared might never be achievable.
"There was no proper school in the area where I live in Gwadar district, and many girls like me were out of school. If China did not support my education, I may not have gotten the opportunity to receive education," Saiba told Xinhua.
Coming from a family of eight siblings, Saiba's parents could not afford to send the girls to school. However, the construction of this school through Chinese donations in 2015 opened the door to education for Saiba and her sisters.
"There aren't many female doctors in our city," Saiba said. "I'm working hard in school because I want to serve my community and make their lives better the way the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) changed my life and brought colors to my life," the 14-year-old said.
Launched in 2013, CPEC, a flagship project of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, is a corridor linking Gwadar Port in Pakistan with Kashgar in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, which highlights energy, transport, and industrial cooperation in the first phase, while in the new phase expands to fields of agriculture and livelihood, among others.
The school, initially established to provide primary education, covers 1,600 square meters. In response to requests from parents and teachers, it expanded to include a middle school. Now, the institution boasts two teaching buildings and several additional facilities, all donated by China.
With a total enrollment exceeding 550 students, the school has become a preferred choice for parents who seek quality education for their children. The facilities, including a state-of-the-art computer lab, modern furniture, and well-trained teachers, set it apart from other schools in the area.
In talks with Xinhua, Parveen Nawaz, the headmistress of the school, explained how transformative the school has been, saying that, before 2015, there were no schools in the area of a population of about 20,000 people, and children spent their days playing in the streets as many families in Faqeer colony were extremely poor, and the cost of sending their children to schools outside the area was unaffordable.
"After China's generous support, the education level in the area has significantly improved, and the lives of these children have changed dramatically," she said.
Parveen noted that CPEC has directly benefited the students and families of Gwadar through the school.
"CPEC has provided these children with opportunities that were once out of reach due to poverty. Now, their dreams have a real chance of becoming a reality," she said.
In addition, several teachers from the school were awarded scholarships to study in China, further enhancing the quality of education at the school.
Tahira Akhtar, an eighth-grade student and the general secretary of the student body of the school, shared her story. After completing primary school three years ago, she feared that without the school expanding to include middle school, her education would come to an end.
"I was so relieved upon hearing the news that the school would be expanding to include a middle school. I could continue my studies," Tahira recalled.
"Thanks to China's timely support, my generation has experienced the real benefits of CPEC, and we are determined to do our part in strengthening the friendship between Pakistan and China," she added.
The school stands as a beacon of hope not only for Saiba and Tahira, but for all young girls of Faqeer colony, who now have the opportunity to pursue their dreams, as the school continues to expand and improve. It provides a lifeline for students eager to break free from the limitations of poverty and lack of educational resources.
