US-Pak relations: USAID working with private sector in Punjab

Projects worth $250 million underway this year, says provincial director.

LAHORE:

While the Punjab government cancelled projects with the USAID last year in May, the agency is financing projects worth $250 million this year in partnership with the private sector and NGOs in agriculture, health, energy, micro-entrepreneur financing, dairy and livestock, healthcare, and democracy and governance.

Ted Gehr, the USAID provincial director, speaking with The Express Tribune said the USAID had allocated 30 per cent of the country budget ($800-$900 million) to the Punjab.

The Punjab government had unilaterally cancelled four projects involving $125 million in May. Gehr said the financing of those projects went to Sindh and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

Gehr said the agency is in touch with the government at the official level and is providing technical assistance and other support although there is no financial commitment to the Punjab government.

He said USAID was working to help establish a modern market-driven agricultural sector that can meet domestic food needs, generate export revenue and boost economic growth in the province.

There are 63 projects underway across Pakistan in five major sectors: energy, economic growth, stabilisation, education, and health under the auspices of USAID at the moment.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 15^th, 2012.