Pakistan, US revise existing agreements by $23.5 million

Funds will be used to implement reforms in law enforcement, capacity building and other areas of development.

ISLAMABAD: The governments of Pakistan and United States signed revisions to their existing agreements on Tuesday, effectively adding US $23.5 million of funds to various reform projects in Pakistan.

The Secretary, Economic Affairs Division Nargis Sethi and US Ambassador to Pakistan Richard Olson signed 'Revision 76' on behalf of their respective governments.

The agreement divides US$ 23.5 million for various projects as follows:

Law Enforcement Reforms and Capacity Building receives the bulk of the revision with an allocation of US$15.5 million.

Crop Control and Area Development (US$3 million) and Demand Reduction (US$3 million), and Rule of Law (US$2 million) also got allocations.

The governments of the two states have signed 75 Revisions to date wherein a total of US$700 has been provided for training personnel in the Interior Division, Narcotics Affairs Division, Law & Justice Division in addition for the provision of equipment and infrastructure support to Police Departments of Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Funds have also been provided to support female officials working within police organisations and for schemes targeting the capacity building of officers, improving administration of provincial prisons system, modernizing prison management philosophies and promoting the adoption of humane detention and care of growing prisoner numbers.