Islamabad, June 23 : The UAE Project to Assist Pakistan has built 40 schools and handed them over to authorities in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Around 21,000 boys and girls have already started classes there.

A grand opening ceremony was held Saturday at one of the boys' schools, where project director Abdullah Khalifa Al Ghafli unveiled a memorial plaque declaring the official opening.

Al Ghafli and Maj. Gen. Zahir Shah, commander of the GOC 45th Engineers Division of the Pakistani Armed Forces, took a tour of the school building where they inspected classes, scientific and computer laboratories, sports facilities and other support services.

© IANS