ISLAMABAD: The US government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), will contribute $7 million to the Asian Develop­ment Bank’s (ADB) ongoing support for the Ehsaas progra­mme addressing the secondary effects of Covid-19 in Pakistan.

USAID Mission Director Julie Koenen and ADB Country Director Yong Ye attended a signing ceremony held in this regard on Thursday.

The ADB will use $7m to provide cash grants to Pakistani families in need of financial assistance due to the pandemic, a US embassy press release said.

The grants will be distributed through the Ehsaas Emergency Cash Progra­mme managed by the Benazir Income Support Programme. USAID’s funds also will provide technical and administrative support to ensure effectiveness, accountability and transparency for the programme beneficiaries.

Speaking at the ceremony, Ms Koenen said that fighting the pandemic would take significant resources and an urgent, collective effort among governments, civil society, the private sector, philanthropists, multilateral organisations and other international partners.

“This contribution to ADB will support the government of Pakistan’s efforts to implement the Ehsaas Pro­gramme through the provision of direct cash grants to underprivileged Pakistani families affected by closures and work stoppages during the Covid-19 pandemic,” she added.

Published in Dawn, November 19th, 2021