ISLAMABAD: The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has disbursed over $2.6 billion in different projects related to energy, health, education and infrastructure in Pakistan under the Kerry-Lugar-Berman bill.
“The main emphasis of the assistance was on the sectors that include energy production, economic growth, agriculture improvement, education, health and infrastructure across the country,” said USAID Acting Country Director Karen Freeman, while talking to newspersons at a function at National Institute of Health.
“The US wants a prosperous, secure, and stable Pakistan with improvement of all basic needs of life available to the people at grassroots level.” Freeman said. She added that all the USAID funded projects are on track.
Karen Freeman while replying to a question on assistance in energy sector said that besides producing 400 megawatts (MW) through new projects, the fund is being provided for the improvement of existing energy projects to raise their capacity.
Regarding assistance in health projects, she said, the USAID had very close relations with the health sector and was sharing the organisation’s experience with Pakistanis working in the sector.
She said that as part of its commitment to the Pakistani people, the US government, through the USAID has provided assistance in helping strengthen Pakistan’s energy sector, increase the educational and economic opportunities available to Pakistan’s citizens, improve the provision of health care services, and meet critical infrastructure requirements in remote mountainous areas. She said that the agency also provided substantial relief and recovery assistance, such as when floods devastated the country in 2010.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 16th, 2012.
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