Foreign Assistance: ‘US cooperating with Pakistan on development’

Construction of 239 hotels in Swat underway; five-year plan for projects worth $90 million for Peshawar being drafted.

PESHAWAR: Pakistan is receiving $1.5 billion annually from the United States of America under the Kerry-Lugar Bill, out of which $900 million would be spent on rehabilitation of flood affected areas.

This was said by American Consul General of Peshawar Dr Marie Richard during her visit to the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Wednesday.

She said the people of Peshawar have played a frontline role in war against terrorism and the United States was aware of peoples’ sacrifices. She added that a by-pass in Landi Kotal and the Ring Road Peshawar are being constructed with American help.

She added that the US will also cooperate in constructing the Gomal Zam Dam in South Waziristan, adding that the 115 schools and bridges have been constructed in Malakand Division while over 10,000 people in the area would receive agricultural livelihood.

Moreover, the construction of 239 hotels in Swat is also underway and a five-year plan for projects worth $90 million for Peshawar is also being drafted, explained Richard.

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