ISLAMABAD: The top US aid official says the country is drastically reducing the number of aid projects in Pakistan as part of reforms aimed at improving the distribution of billions of dollars in funding.

But Rajiv Shah, head of the US Agency for International Development, tells The Associated Press the amount of civilian aid won't be reduced.

The reorganization comes two years after the US launched a five-year, $7.5 billion civilian aid program in Pakistan.

Shah said Friday in an interview in Islamabad that the US plans to cut the number of projects from a high of over 140 to around 35 by the end of September.

The projects will be in five key areas: energy, economic growth, health, education and stabilization of Afghan border areas.