ISLAMABAD: Mr Joseph C. Wheeler, director of the US AID mission to Pakistan, said here this morning [March 19] that the attitude of the US Government … was to give sympathetic attention to the economic requirements of Pakistan. Addressing a Press conference on the eve of his departure for Paris to attend the Consortium meeting, Mr Wheeler said that from the period Jan 1, 1972 to Feb 28, 1973 the total economic assistance to Pakistan worked out to 304 million dollars. This was nearly the same high level as was made available in the period before 1965. … This morning he had signed an agreement for supply of 10,000 metric tons of vegetable oil. The supply of wheat during the year had been in excess of 1,400,000 metric tons which was a very high figure for West Pakistan.

Mr Wheeler said that this showed the desire of the US Government to help Pakistan in making adjustments in economy, while she was passing through difficult times. He remarked that “there was a general recognition that some relief should be provided to Pakistan in her debt repayment liabilities”. … Mr Wheeler said that about one-third of the total aid provided to Pakistan was distributed in East Pakistan. — News agencies

Published in Dawn, March 20th, 2023