ISLAMABAD, May 10: The Unites States Agency for International Development and two other world uplift bodies will jointly offer $70 million grant to Pakistan over a three-year period for improving reproductive health care services in the country.

A ceremony was held here on Saturday to sign a Memorandum of Understanding in this regard, in which US Ambassador to Pakistan Ms Nancy J. Powell, Minister for Finance Shaukat Aziz and Economic Affairs Division Secretary Dr Waqar Masood Khan were also present.

The two other agencies providing funding are the United Kingdom Department for International Development and the United Nations Population Fund.

The amount will be used to meet Pakistan’s key population welfare goals by expanding family planning services, particularly in the rural areas. A programme in this regard is also designed to help reduce population growth rate and improve mothers’ health. It will also provide Pakistan a facility to achieve the health and population welfare objectives, as outlined in the poverty alleviation strategy.

Ms Powell on this occasion told reporters that the US Congress was expected to shortly okay the cancellation of remaining $1.8 billion debt owed by Pakistan.

“In fact this cancellation of debt is an overall economic package that the Bush administration wants to offer to Pakistan,” she added.