Pak, US sign $750m FATA aid accord
By Adnan Rafique

ISLAMABAD—Senior representatives of the United States and Pakistan Sunday signed a new multi-year agreement for American people’s assistance to the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) development amounting to $750 million over the next five years. The United States is providing $105 million this year for the FATA program.
“The United States Government on behalf of the American people understands the importance of delivering resources quickly and effectively to bring essential services to the people of the FATA,” U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Pakistan Mission Director, Anne Aarnes, said after signing the bilateral agreement with the Secretary, Economic Affairs Division, M. Akram Malik.
The USAID Director said that it is part of a long-term commitment by the United States to assist the Government of Pakistan in addressing the acute development needs of the people of this important region of Pakistan.
“We commend the Government of Pakistan in establishing the Sustainable Development Plan for the FATA,” USAID’s Aarnes said. “We have crafted our assistance activities to directly support this plan, and we look forward to working together closely with FATA officials in its implementation.”
The new agreement will be used to support programs in capacity building, livelihoods, agriculture, micro and small and medium enterprises, health, education and infrastructure development in the FATA.
“The United States is dedicating substantial resources to meet the needs of Pakistani people, and to build services and institutions over the long run,” Ambassador Anne. W. Patterson said earlier this week.
“The Government’s program will improve health, education, infrastructure, agriculture, governance, and economic dynamism in the Tribal Areas" USAID Director added. Agencies Add: Pakistan and United States on Sunday signed an agreement for social and economic development of the Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (FATA). The agreement was signed by Anne Aarnes, Mission Director of USAID in Pakistan and Secretary of the Economic Affairs Division Akram Malik.
Under the project, United States government would provide a total of US $ 750 million assistance over five years period for socio-economic uplift of the tribal areas. Pakistan government has started special program for development of the areas and bring them at par with developed areas of the country.
The government has accordingly designed a US $ 2 billion plan for sustainable development of the FATA and the financial assistance would be utilized for capacity building of FATA Secretariat and other government institutions officials. The sub sectors including public health, water supply and sanitation, education, energy, communication, agriculture and business development would receive focused investment from the funds.
Another project was also signed between the two countries under which USAID would provide an additional assistance of US $ 1.36 million for improvement of health facilities and population welfare.