US likely to revive annual economic aid, says official
By Ihtasham ul Haque
ISLAMABAD, Oct 24: The United States is considering reviving Pakistan’s annual economic assistance under USAID programme which had been suspended many years ago.
“My department has proposed the revival of USAID to Pakistan and now a final decision has to be taken by the Bush government over the issue,” said Mr Bear McConnell, Director of the Central Asian Task Force at the US Agency for International Development.
He told reporters here on Wednesday at the residence of the US Ambassador to Pakistan that Official Development Assistance (ODA) for Pakistan was likely to be restored soon. However, he pointed out that his government would be taking any final decision about it.
“May be this issue of USAID is decided along with the bigger economic package that is currently being finalized for Pakistan”, he added.
Pakistan had been receiving 400 to 450 million dollars USAID, including wheat, under PL 480 programme till early 80s which was later suspended.
He said that the US had decided to develop new political and economic relations with Pakistan and that the revival of annual suspended aid could be around the corner.
Mr McConnell said that United States was contributing an additional 320 million dollars in humanitarian assistance for the people of Afghanistan. Much of this money, he said, would go for purchasing foods and other important commodities including edible oil.
In reply to a question he said that most of the assistance like wheat and blankets were coming from the United States for Afghan people. However, he said, a lot of new purchases would also be made from Pakistan to help improve the country’s economy.
He said that 45,000 tons of wheat had already arrived in Pakistan while another 65,000 tons was in the process of being shipped.
Later, in November and December, he said, 100,000 tons of wheat would be offered. “Then two consignments of 55,000 tons and 17,000 tons of wheat will reach here in January and February next year,” he further stated.
When asked how could fooddrops reach the needy people when there was heavy bombing in Afghanistan, he said whatever was possible was being done through the United Nations and other NGOs.
