US, Pakistan launch education Web site

Hoping to bridge their countries through an understanding of arts and culture, Laura Bush and Pakistan's first lady, Sehba Musharraf, launched a new Web site geared toward educating youth, an Associated Press report said.

The report said the site, 'The Gift of Indus: The Arts & Culture of Pakistan,' was the result of a partnership between the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the Pakistan National Council on the Arts.

'One of the best ways the people of Pakistan and the US can deepen our friendship is for the people of our countries to deepen their knowledge of each others' cultures,' Bush was quoted by Associated Press as saying.

The Web site is designed for 13- to 18-year-olds in the US, Pakistan and around the world so they may learn about the arts and culture of Pakistan, the Associated Press report said.

'Diversity has been the essence of our people and traditions,' Musharraf said. 'These can be seen in our art, architecture and literature.'

The Web site features a blog where students can exchange ideas about their cultures. Visitors to the site can also view video clips of life in Pakistan and hear audio clips of Pakistani music. Other sections on the site highlight the country's paintings, dance and theater, the report said.