WASHINGTON, July 27: The $5.1 billion US arms package for Pakistan seems all set for an automatic approval by Friday afternoon as so far US lawmakers have raised no objection to the proposed deal.

“The period (for rejecting the package) ends tomorrow, and the deal is moving ahead,” US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher told reporters on Thursday. “We are working closely with Congress.”

Mr Boucher said it was “very important for the US to help meet Pakistan’s defence needs.”

The Bush administration officially notified Congress about the package, which includes 36 Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter jets, on June 28, leaving the lawmakers with only 30 days to reject the deal. A failure to do so leads to an automatic adoption of the package.