News
Thursday, April 15, 2010
US to channel more aid via Pakistan govtISLAMABAD: The United States will channel more aid to Pakistan directly through the government, the new head of the US overseas aid agency said on Wednesday.
On his first visit to Pakistan after being appointed US Agency for International Development (USAID) administrator in December, Rajiv Shah, said the US was “incredibly” serious about changing the way the USAID used to work in Pakistan, Reuters reported.
“Our investments have often gone to US-based contractors and US-based organisations, and too much of those resources have landed back in the US,” he told a news conference.
“Our team is committed to increasing the proportion of spending that we provide directly to the government and directly to the Pakistani institutions.”
Shah said the US was willing to initiate high-impact projects in various sectors of Pakistan to address critical development and needs of the country.
He said it was willing to demonstrate strong relations with the political leadership of Pakistan by initiating projects in the energy, agriculture, water resources, education, and health sectors through a long-term partnership over the next few years.
Dr Shah’s visit to Pakistan is being seen as a follow-up of the Pak-US strategic dialogue held in Washington last month.
vidya rana/reutersCourtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk