U.S.-Pakistan Economic Relations And U.S. Development Assistance To Pakistan’

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Army chief inaugurates 'largest bridge in South Waziristan

Dawn
Nov 09 2014

RAWALPINDI: A 76km long road and the largest bridge in South Waziristan agency were inaugurated Sundayby Chief of Army Staff, General Raheel Sharif to facilitate trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the military said in a statement.

The statement released by the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) says the Shakai-Makeen road, funded by USAID, is an important section of the upcoming Central Trade Corridor (CTC). This road connects the two main axes of Trade Corridor which are road Bannu – Miranshah – Ghulam Khan and road Wana – Aangor Ada.

The statement describes the CTC as a strategic road link to improve trade between Pakistan – Afghanistan and will directly and indirectly contribute in reviving the economy of Federally Administered Tribal Area and Kyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Apart from other economic, security and strategic advantages, the newly constructed roads have reduced travelling times considerably, the military added. An international standard 705-km long road network is also being built by army engineers that will run through southern KPK and FATA.
General Raheel Sharif said the development of FATA is a "priority task" being undertaken by the army.

The statement also added that the Pakistan army has undertaken 178 projects so far in the social sector, communication infrastructure and power sector in FATA and Malakand areas. These projects are aimed to improve the quality of life in tribal areas and address the problem of militancy on a long-term basis.

 

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Press Releases | Embassy of the United States Islamabad, Pakistan

USAID signs Education Agreement and Launches Mobile Bus Library Program
November 19, 2014

The Assistant to the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Donald “Larry” Sampler and the President of the International Rescue Committee (IRC), David Miliband officially inaugurated the USAID-funded Pakistan Reading Project’s mobile bus library program at a government secondary school in Islamabad. The Mobile Bus Library Program will bring age-appropriate reading materials to communities which do not have established libraries in order to help reintroduce and re-establish a national culture of reading in Pakistan.

Speaking on the occasion Larry Sampler said, “The Mobile Library Program is just one element of the USAID-funded Pakistan Reading Project which will help Pakistani children to start their own journeys in the world of books. Through this partnership between USAID, our implementing partner - the International Rescue Committee, and the Government of Pakistan, we are taking a multi-pronged approach to help increase literacy.”

The Pakistan Reading Project, implemented by the International Rescue Committee, will run a mobile bus library program in Sindh and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) over the next two years and will bring reading materials directly to communities and help re-establish reading habits. Trained librarians onboard each bus will conduct story-telling sessions in each community they visit. They will also issue books for schoolchildren to take home to read. David Miliband, President IRC said, “The USAID funded Pakistan Reading Project being implemented by IRC is helping to improve reading skills of children across Pakistan. The mobile bus library is another step towards promoting a reading culture in Pakistan.”

Later in the day, USAID Mission Director Gregory Gottlieb and Minister of State for Federal Education and Professional Development, Muhammad Baligh ur Rehman also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to continue working towards improvement in the quality of education by helping to build the skills of teachers throughout Pakistan. At the signing, Mr Muhammad Baligh ur Rehman, thanked the U.S. Government for their continued support to raising standards in Pakistani education.

The USAID-funded Pakistan Reading Project is a $165 million project, which is supporting Pakistan’s provincial and regional departments of education to improve the reading skills of children. It is one part of a comprehensive education program that the United States implements in Pakistan in partnership with the government of Pakistan.

 

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US extends $532 million assistance package to Pakistan – The Express Tribune

December 29, 2014

ISLAMABAD: US Ambassador to Pakistan Richard Olson on Monday revealed that US Congress has notified a $532m assistance package for Pakistan.

Discussing the civilian assistance package under the Kerry Lugar Act with the Finance Minister Ishaq Dar at the ministry of finance on Monday, the US envoy said that the Congress notified the assistance package for assisting Pakistan in different sectors including energy, defense against terrorism, economic growth, community building, education and health.

The finance minister remarked that the government would spend a large amount of this assistance for the rehabilitation of the Internally displaced Persons (IDPs) of North Waziristan Agency.
The US envoy also congratulated Pakistan on the successful completion of fourth and fifth IMF review and the subsequent rise of the foreign exchange reserves to $15billion, which could provide government an opportunity to become a member of International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and enjoy better financial packages.

During the meeting, the US ambassador also discussed the agenda for the expected visit of Secretary Kerry to Pakistan in January next year.

Dar raised the issue of speedy delivery of Boeing aircrafts for PIA with Olson.
The US ambassador expressed his grief and offered condolences over the terrorist attack on Peshawar school on December 16, in which 149 people including 133 children were killed.

 

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http://www.usaid.gov/pakistan/energy

The United States funds large-scale energy projects to provide electricity to three million households by 2014 in Pakistan.

Gomal Zam dam located in South Waziristan Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas, Pakistan. USAID Pakistan

The goals of USAID’s energy programs in Pakistan are: expanding production capacity, increasing distribution efficiencies, and supporting reform of the sector. This multi-prong approach aims to address both the immediate energy shortages and help the country build longer-term energy sufficiency.
The United States is committed to working with the Government of Pakistan toward a brighter future for the people of Pakistan. Relieving Pakistan’s energy crisis is one of our top assistance priorities. Together, we are carrying out large-scale energy projects that have already added/saved about 1,300 megawatts to the system – enough power to supply electricity to more than two million households (about 16 million people). An additional 100 megawatts will be added by the end of 2014.

TURNING THE LIGHTS ON: INCREASING ENERGY PRODUCTION

Out of the 1300 megawatts that U.S.-funded projects have brought for Pakistani businesses and families, about 900 Megawatts were added through renovation and rehabilitation of Tarbela Dam in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Jamshoro Thermal Power Plant in Sindh, and the Muzaffargharh Thermal Power Plant in Punjab. Guddu Power Plant is also been rehabilitated and upon completion it will add 80 megawatts of power to the system.

The United States has helped to complete Satpara Dam in Gilgit Baltistan and Gomal Zam in South Waziristan; both of the projects are generating 35 Megawatts of power and will help mitigate floods, store water for irrigation, and provide million gallons of water per day for use. Read more.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/154953/hydroelectric-power-us-officials-visit-gomal-zam-dam/
SOUTH WAZIRISTAN: Officials from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) visited the Gomal Zam dam on Thursday, along with Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) Chairman Shakil Durrani.

Water and Power Minister Khawaja Asif and US Ambassador Richard Olson unveil a plague to inaugurate the newly-built Gomal Zam dam in South Waziristan on Thursday.

http://www.dawn.com/news/1042480
DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Minister for Water and Power Khwaja Muhammad Asif inaugurated the Gomal Zam Dam in South Waziristan’s militancy-ravaged Khajori Katch area on Thursday.


http://nation.com.pk/business/26-Sep-2013/us-govt-generates-power-in-jamshoro-for-4-3-million-pakistanis-olsan
US govt generates power in Jamshoro for 4.3 million Pakistanis: Olson

http://www.dawn.com/news/1091733
LAHORE: The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has committed to provide a grant of $81 million to the Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority for construction of the Stage-I of Kurram Tangi Dam Project.

 

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USAID, Sindh govt break ground at Karachi school

KARACHI: Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director Gregory Gottlieb and Sindh Minister for Education Nisar Ahmed Khuhro broke ground at the Damba Goath government school in Gadap Town. The event kicked off USAID-funded school construction in Karachi, under its Sindh Basic Education Program (SBEP).


“This groundbreaking represents only one part of the broader U.S. commitment to expanding access to education for all Pakistanis, especially girls,” said Mission Director Gottlieb. “Besides building schools, the U.S. government offers many scholarship, exchange and teacher training programs.” These, said Mr. Gottlieb are designed to increase opportunities for Pakistan’s younger generation and improve Pakistan’s economic and employment conditions.

“Education plays a pivotal role in shaping the lives of children and young adults,” said USAID Provincial Director Leon S. Waskin. “USAID’s educational programs, such as SBEP, focus on improving the quality of teaching and learning as well as increasing equitable access to safe learning opportunities for children.” Also present at the groundbreaking ceremony were USAID Senior Policy Advisor and Program Manager SBEP Dr. Randy Hatfield, Sindh Education Secretary Fazlullah Pechuho and MPA Muhammad Sajid Jokhio as well as Sindh Department of Education and Literacy officials and teachers, students, and members of the community.

USAID is providing $155 million to fund SBEP with the Sindh government offering $10 million as part of a cost-share arrangement. As part of the program, USAID is helping the Sindh government construct 120 large schools, including those in flood-affected areas. USAID is building schools in Khairpur, Sukkur, Larkana, Qambar-Shahdadkot, Jacobabad, Kashmore and Dadu Districts of Sindh along with Kemari, Liyari, Orangi, Gaddap and Bin Qasim towns of Karachi. Construction is underway in Khairpur, Sukkur, and Larkana. The program also works with communities to improve school management and increase girls’ enrolment while improving the reading skills of 750,000 children in targeted areas of the province.

 

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Coca Cola to invest $350m in Pakistan

Pakistan Today
2 HOURS AGO BY STAFF REPORT

A delegation of the Coca Cola Company led by its President Eurasia & Africa Group, Nathan Kalumbu, met Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar on Thursday and briefed him about the company’s investment plans in Pakistan.

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar welcomed the delegation and said the present government offered a liberal investment regime and facilitated all foreign investors in accordance with existing regulations of the country. He briefed Kalumbu about the economic achievements of the government and said having achieved economic stability it was now on the path of economic growth and job creation.

Nathan Kalumbu apprised the finance minister that encouraged by the economic turnaround and stability achieved by Pakistan in the last two years and the positive rating accorded to it by international rating agencies, the Coca Cola Company has already started implementing its plan to invest over US$350 million in the country. He added that Coca Cola was already a leading US investor in Pakistan.

Unveiling the investment plan, Kalumbu stated that three new Coca Cola plants were being established at Karachi, Multan and Islamabad and the fresh investment would further contribute to strengthening of economy and job creation. He said Pakistan was ranked 7th in size in Coca Cola’s Eurasia and Africa group which includes 84 countries and the company accords it due importance in terms of production, marketing and other commercial activities.

Members of the delegation which also included Curtis A. Ferguson, President Coca Cola Middle East & North Africa (MENA), Rizwanullah Khan General Manger Pakistan and Afghanistan Region, John Mathew Galvin, General Manger Coca Cola Beverages Pakistan Ltd and Fahad Qadir, Director Public Affairs & Communications Pakistan & Afghanistan Region, thanked the finance minister for sparing time out of his busy schedule to meet them and assured that the Coca Cola company would do its utmost to contribute positively to Pakistan’s economy.

 

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USAID breaks ground on Qambar Shahdadkot School

May 28, 2016
By: Samaa Web Desk

Qamber Shahdadkot: The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) broke ground on construction of a school in Mondar Lakha Village, Qambar Shahdadkot District.

Sindh Education Secretary Fazlullah Pechuho planted a tree to mark the occasion, which was attended by officials, teachers, students and members of the community.

“We are committed to improving education in the province,” said Dr. Pechuho.

“The Sindh government and USAID are increasing access to education as well as enrollment of girls.”

USAID just finished construction on the following four schools in Sukkur and Khairpur districts: Kouro Goth, Tando Mir Ali, Arain and Jhaj Regulator.

As part of its Sindh Basic Education Program (SBEP), USAID is providing $155 million to build more than 100 state-of-art schools, and is working with communities to improve school management, increase girls’ enrollment and improve the reading skills of 400,000 children. The Sindh government is contributing $10 million in cost sharing.

In all, 20 schools will be built in Qambar Shahdadkot District with 54 already under construction in Sindh. USAID estimates that more than 50,000 students will get free education at these newly constructed schools. – SAMAA

 

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Pakistan, US Partner to Begin Construction of Waziristan Dam

Ayaz Gul March 04, 2017

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan’s prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, on Friday ceremonially broke ground on an $81 million U.S.-funded component of a larger dam project to be built in North Waziristan, a volatile tribal region that until recently was condemned as the epicenter of global terrorism.

Officials say that, once completed, the $230 million Kurram Tangi Dam would promote local agriculture and generate 83.4 megawatts of environment-friendly power.

Sharif told the ceremony at the project site that it marks the beginning of “a new era” in North Waziristan and acknowledged the U.S. financial assistance.

“This also declares the end of an era of fear and chaos in an area occupied by terrorists but [the] local population is now regaining control over its affairs,” he said. Sharif said Pakistani troops and law enforcement agencies lost thousands of personnel before evicting terrorists from North Waziristan.

The counterterrorism operation also forced tens of thousands of civilian families to flee their homes, he said, but vowed to complete the repatriation process in the next few months.

The Pakistani military is supervising reconstruction projects in the post-operation phase within the poverty-stricken Waziristan territory bordering Afghanistan.

‘Economic development and employment’

The American and Pakistani partnership will provide irrigation to approximately 6,500 hectares of land and produce 18 megawatts of hydropower, a statement issued in Islamabad quoted U.S. ambassador to Pakistan David Hale as saying.

“The Kurram Tangi Dam will bring economic development and employment to the region, thereby reducing poverty,” he added

North Waziristan has for years served as a hideout for al-Qaida-linked terrorists and a training ground for the Taliban and its ally, the Haqqani network, that has waged a deadly insurgency against the U.S.-backed Afghan government.

The mountainous region has also been the scene of U.S. drone strikes, killing hundreds of militants plotting attacks against American and NATO forces across the Afghan border.

In his speech Friday, Sharif also vowed to step up the process of reforms in North Waziristan and six other semi-autonomous tribal districts near the Afghan border, which are all governed by the federal government through a set of controversial British colonial-era laws.

The proposed reforms for the poverty-wracked tribal belt, known as the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, or FATA, are primarily aimed at canceling the existing laws and merging the region with the adjacent Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

The plan still must be approved by parliament. If enacted, it would set up a five-year merger process, a 10-year development plan and a major upgrade of the legal system, including an additional 20,000 police officers in the sprawling, largely lawless region. Link