PESHAWAR: The USAID programme in Pakistan is the second largest in the world which has spent $3 billion out of the allocated $5 billion of which 60 percent came from the Kerry-Lugar initiative.
After Kerry-Lugar, America will continue her support as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Fata are important regions for the US due to the circumstances in Afghanistan.
USAID Mission Director in Pakistan Gregory Gottlieb stated this during a media chat along with US Consul General in Peshawar Jon Danilowicz and USAID deputy deputy Gregory Huger.
Gottlieb pointed out that the USAID had already spent $40 million on internally displaced persons (IDPs) in addition to 30 million that was approved for food. He informed that they had built 700-km of roads in Fata alone, completed Gomal Zam Dam and started work on the first phase of Kurram Tangi Dam.
Mr Gottlieb said the USAID would help Pakistan repatriate and rehabilitate tribesmen displaced due to military offensive against militant Zarb-e-Azb. “It will include reconstruction of schools, clinics, water systems, roads,” he elaborated.
Speaking on the occasion, UC Consul General declared that it was untrue that people of Pakistan were anti-America, saying he had never experienced anti-Americanism in his interaction with the people.
He asserted that he rejected the idea that the people of Pakistan were anti-America.
Mr Danilowicz pointed out that he knew polls say certain things but he judged it by his interaction with Pakistani people in all parts of the country as well as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
