Foreign aid to Pakistan
Pakistan receives financial assistance from various countries and international organizations.
Education aidEdit
In 2015, Pakistan received 64.9 crore US$ in aid for education, the highest amount it had ever received to date. This represented an increase from 58.6 crore US$ in 2014. Reports indicate that Pakistan received the most educational aid among all countries in the Indian subcontinent, with India following closely at 58.9 crore US$ in 2015. The largest portion of this aid was designated for basic education, with 37.1 crore US$, or 57.16%, allocated specifically for that purpose out of the total 64.9 crore US$.[1]
Election supportEdit
One of the primary organizations supporting the electoral process in Pakistan is the Election Support Group (ESG). This internationally supported coalition of stakeholders made 32 specific recommendations to the Election Commission, drawing from the input of 16 international organisations.[2] In October 2009, a meeting was convened to present these recommendations to the commission. Following this, the Election Commission tasked ESG with providing further guidance on how to effectively address the identified issues.[3]
Saudi ArabiaEdit
In 2013, the Saudi Arabian government donated US$1.5 billion to Pakistan to bolster its foreign reserves and address its balance of trade deficit needs. This financial assistance was aimed at helping Pakistan stabilize its economy during challenging times.
United States of AmericaEdit
Former US Ambassador to Pakistan, Anne W. Patterson, addressed senior bureaucrats at the National Management College, emphasising the United States' commitment to assist Pakistan's new democratic government in areas such as development, stability, and security.[4] In 2008, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) officially announced the signing of an agreement worth 84 lakh US$ aimed at alleviating Pakistan's food crisis.[4]
Electoral helpEdit
In 2006, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) executed a 90 lakh US$ contract through USAID to implement a computerised electoral rolls system for the Pakistani government.[5] Additionally, USAID, IFES, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI) coordinated various initiatives aimed at training election officials in Pakistan. A significant aspect of this collaboration included the establishment of a Federal Election Academy and a library designed to support the Election Commission of Pakistan.[6]
Financial aid to Pakistan since the 11 September 2001 attacksEdit
From 2002 to 2011, the U.S. Congress sanctioned a total of 18 arab US$ in military and economic assistance to Pakistan. However, the amount actually received by the Pakistan Treasury was only 8.647 arab US$ in direct financial disbursements.
In 2007, officials from the Bush administration claimed that a considerable share of the military aid provided to Pakistan for combating Al-Qaeda did not reach the intended front lines and was instead utilised to counter India.[7] Furthermore, in 2008, U.S. officials indicated that nearly 70%—approximately 3.4 arab US$—of the military aid allotted between 2002 and 2007 was misappropriated.[8] Additional criticism emerged in 2008 when USAID informed the House Foreign Affairs Committee that as much as 30% of the aid directed towards Afghanistan and Pakistan went to U.S.-based contractors and consultants.[9]
ReferencesEdit
- ↑ "Amid global decline, international aid for education in Pakistan increases". The Express Tribune. 2017-06-08. Retrieved 2022-04-07.
- ↑ International Foundation for Electoral Systems (2009). "Election Support Group". Archived from the original on 18 October 2009. Retrieved 25 October 2009.
- ↑ "CEC-ESG discuss Electoral Reforms Recommendations". Islamabad: The Associated Press of Pakistan. 12 October 2009. Archived from the original on 4 March 2012. Retrieved 25 October 2009.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "The United States Embassy". Archived from the original on 21 December 2008. Retrieved 21 December 2008.
- ↑ Computerised electoral rolls system installed Archived 28 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine Daily Times (Pakistan), 10 September 2008. Accessed 23 July 2009.
- ↑ Capacity building key to meet modern day challenges, The International News (Pakistan), 14 July 2009. Accessed 7 August 2009.
- ↑ Rohde, David; Gall, Carlotta; Schmitt, Eric; Sanger, David E. (24 December 2007). "U.S. Officials See Waste in Billions Sent to Pakistan". The New York Times. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
- ↑ Walsh, Declan (27 February 2008). "Up to 70% of US aid to Pakistan 'misspent'". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
- ↑ Upadhyay, Brajesh (16 May 2008). "US aid 'failing to reach target'". BBC News. Retrieved 2 May 2010.