ISLAMABAD, Oct 24: The United States on Friday singed agreements with Pakistan to provide $339.10 million assistance for various development projects.

These agreements are aimed at supporting economic growth, education, health, governance and earthquake reconstruction in Pakistan.

Adviser to Prime Minister on Economic Affairs Shaukat Tareen and Acting Deputy Administrator for the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) James Kunder signed six amendments to existing Strategic Objective Agreements between the two countries.

In 2008, the US government through USAID has provided a total of $406 million in assistance to Pakistan.

For the Education Sector Support Programme in Pakistan, US government has committed an amount of $128.9 million. This contribution will strengthen and improve basic education and higher education programme. It will further enhance the need and merit-based scholarship programme in collaboration with the Pakistan Higher Education Commission.

An amount of $23.2 million will be spent to improve justice system, civil participation and media freedom, improvement in electoral process and decentralisation programme.

Similarly, $76.5 million allocated for health and population welfare will ensure improvement in reproductive health, HIV Aids, tuberculosis, maternal and child health and water supply and sanitation in different parts of the country.

The financial assistance under economic growth amounting to $43.5 million will ensure economic stability in the areas such as trade and investment, infrastructure, agriculture, private sector competitiveness and strengthening of micro enterprises productivity.

Under Earthquake Reconstruction Programme, the United States has committed to provide $48.5 million. The amount will enhance technical assistance and capacity building in the affected areas and will also be utilised for construction and procurement.

In September 2007, the US government approved huge package assistance for Fata development amounting to $750 million over a period of five years (2007-12). Last year US government provided $73 million under this programme, whereas now $20.5 million will be disbursed during the year 2008-09. The funds under this programme would be utilised for capacity building of Fata secretariat and other government institutions for service delivery, good governance, infrastructure, economic growth, micro enterprises development, health and education.

“The agreements we signed today in partnership with the government of Pakistan, will strengthen the education system, improve maternal and newborn health services, prevent the spread of major infectious diseases, create employment, and develop more independent and democratic institutions,” said the acting deputy administrator of USAID.

Mr Kunder said the strategic partnership between the US and Pakistan was of vital importance and “we are committed to sustaining assistance to aid Pakistan in tackling some of its greatest challenges affecting development”.