UK pledges Rs62b for social, electoral reforms

UK hopes to put 4m in schools, prevent 3,600 deaths during childbirth and increase voter turnout by 2m people.

ISLAMABAD: Britain will help Pakistan improve its electoral system and develop its social sector. Specifically, over the next four years, the United Kingdom (UK) hopes to put four million children in schools, prevent the death of 3,600 women during childbirth and increase the voter turnout by two million people.

A press statement by the UK High Commission on Wednesday said the announcement is part of a major shake-up by International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell, in which the UK reviewed all of its aid programmes around the world. The strategy aims to concentrate efforts on fewer countries, where the department hopes to achieve best results in tackling poverty and building stability, the statement said.

If all goes as planned, Pakistan would become UK’s largest recipient of aid, scaling up to £446 million (roughly Rs62 billion) a year by 2015.

However the aid is contingent upon Pakistani government’s “tangible steps” to build a more dynamic economy, strengthen the tax base and tackle corruption.

The sectors that the department seeks to address are:

Education

A major portion of the aid will be used to put more than four million children into school. About 90,000 new teachers will be recruited and trained, and more than six million text books will be provided to children free of charge.

Health

The aid will be used to expand basic community health services, which in turn are expected to prevent 3,600 mothers’ deaths in childbirth and save the lives of 110,000 children. About half-a-million children will be prevented from becoming undernourished and another 400,000 couples will have access to family planning and contraceptives.

Economy and financial inclusion

About 1.5 million poor people, more than half of them women, would be given access to microfinance loans, to enable them to set up their own businesses. The aid also aims to expand branchless banking to another three million people, enable another 4,000 loans to small and medium businesses and fund jobs and skills training for 125,000 poor people in Punjab.

Democracy and governance

The UK wants the government institutions to improve their performance and ensure the delivery of essential services such as education and justice. The aid money will be used in the rebuilding of schools, roads and bridges destroyed by conflict. The United Kingdom also hopes to increase the voter turnout by about two million in the next general elections.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 3^rd, 2011.