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WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump’s proposed budget would slash nearly a third in funding for diplomacy and foreign aid including global health and food aid, peacekeeping and other forms of non-military foreign involvement.
If passed, the steep funding cuts in the plan released on Tuesday would mean much less non-military US government engagement abroad as the administration implements Trump’s “America First” worldview.
The budget plan may face rough sledding in Congress, where both Republicans and Democrats have said they do not support such drastic cuts to US diplomacy and foreign aid.
“This budget reflects a commitment to ensure every tax dollar spent is aligned with mission-critical objectives,” said Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in a statement.
Trump’s budget would cut US funding for global health programs including efforts focusing on HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria by 24 per cent, to about $6.5 billion for 2018.
“Some programs were eliminated but every effort was made to ensure that the most critical priorities are maintained,” the State Department’s budget request stated.
Published in Dawn, May 24th, 2017
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Comments (36) Closed
May 24, 2017 09:03am
The aid given to Pakistan would be treated as loan (featured in other news)... Too many loans now..
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May 24, 2017 09:10am
Indeed, Trump helping Pakistan by cutting aid.
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May 24, 2017 09:34am
Pakistan don't need American aid, let CPEC start and then America can take loan, grants and aid from Pakistan.
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May 24, 2017 09:43am
When will Pakistan learn not to take money from other countries?
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May 24, 2017 09:52am
This is the best thing US can do right now and this would give Pakistan a reality check on how their economy was run. Aid by US and other foreign countries have ruined this nation because we love to be spoon fed. This also gave politicians a lot of room to move this money without doing proper documentation. Infact, US should not give Pakistan any aid and other countries should also employ this because foreign aid only made few select people rich in this country. I like the idea where US is pondering about converting all their aid into loans because maybe this way our politicians would actually understand the value of this country and it's people.
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May 24, 2017 09:54am
What pakistan need is peace. No fund needed .
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May 24, 2017 09:56am
Good move by Trump govt. stop all aids and we don't need refugees coming to live here. All these third world countries are nothing but bludgers.
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May 24, 2017 10:00am
@Amit Pakistan should not be needing any aid. How many more years do we still have to call ourselves a developing country ? CPEC is nothing but a project undertaken with the help of massive loans with little to no local investments. More subsidies and tax cuts are provided to foreign business which would eat away our own local businesses. Half of our country lacks the basic understanding of this project and all economic and financial implications of CPEC that comes with it. Whatever comes in Pakistan will leave simply to service debts and other foreign investments. Simply put, if Pakistan earns 10rs from CPEC then 70% of it will go towards paying CPEC debts remaining 30% will be lost to corruption and some of it will be used to maintain the CPEC infrastructure and for other distribution. In the end the common man will only get remnants out of this project. I hope I am wrong but given the information and government situation they will blow it up big time.
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May 24, 2017 11:02am
Good news, especially for Pakistani, because all the US Aid were going in corrupt politician's pocket. Pakistan is very rich country, just look at the welath of Nawaz Sharif and Asif Zardari invested in Middle East and EU, they have over 900 billions dollars stashed in foreign countries, Donald Trump should demeand them to return all the corruption money back to Pakistan.
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May 24, 2017 11:20am
@flipflop:
To add to your points: First, let's understand that China has a massive overcapacity to manufacture goods. Now that internal demand & US/European demand for goods has contracted, China needs to find new markets. So step one is to create infrastructure like CPEC - which employs China's Capital Equipment industry. Financing of this will be done via loans taken by the state of Pakistan. Ofcourse, in due course one has to pay the interest, or lose whatever was mortgaged.
Second, when the infrastructure is made, now China will have an open space to sell its consumer goods to the citizens of Pakistan, at a price no one can match!
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May 24, 2017 11:31am
America has now recognize that their economic condition at home is not suitable to give lot of money to various countries for world politics & to enhance their image and to protect their interest in these countries.
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May 24, 2017 11:34am
That was a campaign promise.
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May 24, 2017 11:35am
Your aid costs countries more!
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May 24, 2017 12:18pm
Its much needed because the funds dont reach the endusers whom it is intended for and its misuse.
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May 24, 2017 12:26pm
Looks like Trump fulfilling his promise.
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May 24, 2017 12:37pm
I agree with Mr Trump the tax payers money should be used in USA rather than lining pockets of corrupt politicians all overt the world.
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May 24, 2017 12:39pm
God Bless the USA
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May 24, 2017 12:43pm
The US Aid is given to Pakistan only because of regional politics and the ability to pull strings in the region and this phenomenon is from day one and/or to help Pakistan to fight for US interests. Pakistan has done that but has always kept its interests in check also.
Now if US wants to keep its presence in Afghanistan and be involved in the region. US will still have to give Aid to Pakistan, No question in that.
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May 24, 2017 12:47pm
It is good for Pak, besides only small aid of 314 mn USD will not serve any purpose. He should totally abolish aid to Pak.
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May 24, 2017 12:55pm
@M Wasim K : F.Y.I. as reported in other media houses it has been proposed a massive cut of about 200 million US dollars to Pakistan. This year it will be around 334 million w.r.t. last 530 million . 334 includes 100 million dollars as military support . 100 million Pakistan will be needing to keep its military hardware running in any instance.
Second :- Fair good chances that this time it will come as a loan..
Now its you wish take it or refuse it.... Refusal i don't think is bearable..
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May 24, 2017 12:58pm
In my sincere opinion, it is really good if we do not depend upon any form of aid. Whatever may be our suffering we can stand erect with our heads high.
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May 24, 2017 01:03pm
We do not need American aid Mr Trump please do this favour so that we can learn to stand on our own feet. It will be a big favour to Pakistan please do not hesitate.Do it ASAP.
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May 24, 2017 01:22pm
Pakistan should learn to stand on his own feet, once that happens the blood will change, the action will change, otherwise it will remain wicked minded. If Pakistan economy grows the energy will be attracted towards bright future instead of dragging back by scratching the old wounds.
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May 24, 2017 01:39pm
The earlier Pakistan stops picking up crumbs thrown at them, the better they will be. That if, they focus their efforts in improving local conditions and uplifting education, economy etc. and stop fighting (and be used) religious fanatic battles through terrorism.
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May 24, 2017 01:57pm
Cut everybody's air/allowance but please double Melania's allowance.
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May 24, 2017 03:33pm
@Amit .The vultures even do not spare the aid money, and induct corruption.The biggest termite in weakening and hollowing the nation are elite politicians at the expense of tax payers money. Just look at budgetary proposals they are planning to enhance perks remunerations of legislatures so enormously which obviously looks like political bribes. US may distribute aid through LGs or NGOs only, and monitor their spendings.
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May 24, 2017 04:09pm
Trump should on cut down the budget of Global health program specially researchers carried out on HIV/AIDS should have an increase in the budget so they could have a good and effective solution for these deadly diseases.And this world will remember there this effort.
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May 24, 2017 05:05pm
@Amit Stop this nonsense and sarcasm already. Will you please? Thank you.
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May 24, 2017 05:06pm
This man is doing a good thing. No aid means no war. America has always used countries on its will to fight for its own causes. Just look at Pakistan, America has given so much aid to Pakistan to fight against Russia. America needs to stop giving aids and should also stop sending it's troops to middle east countries to invade.
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May 24, 2017 05:10pm
As a president, This man is doing a tremendous job. America first is his main Moto. TRUMP deserves to be President.
Only thing I don't like about him is selling arms worth 100 billion to Saudi and coalition against Iran.
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May 24, 2017 05:51pm
Yet another serious joke by Donald Trump and his cronies.
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May 24, 2017 07:15pm
Comments by Indian readers are always as usual so ...........!
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May 24, 2017 09:18pm
Good for PAkistan
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May 25, 2017 01:33am
Trump does not waste money, he only invests. He never sides with losers.
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May 25, 2017 05:47am
@M Wasim K Please we dont need aid....learn to live within your means.
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May 25, 2017 06:08am
US is not doling out any aid in reality it is paying rent for the services it is extracting from Pakistan.
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