The financial constraints in the United States have also affected its international assistance projects and many countries, including Pakistan, have to face cutbacks in civil financial assistance. The USAID projects this year received half a billion less funds as promised under Kerry-Lugar-Berman Bill that authorised $1.5 billion annually for five years to promote and enhanced strategic partnership with Pakistan.
Instead of $1.5 billion during 2011, the USAID could get only $947.2 million due to across the board cut on international assistance by the US government. Although USAID spent $1.321 billion in 2010 and $1.147 billion during 2009 yet it is facing shortage of funds during 2011 due to financial constraints in Washington this year.
USAID Pakistan Mission Director Dr Andrew B. Sisson in an interview with APP on Thursday said despite constraints in the funds, the USAID has been providing financial assistance to Pakistan in various sectors. He explained that during 2010 and 2011 the USAID Pakistan funding is being used for stabilisation, education, energy, humanitarian assistance, health, earthquake reconstruction, social assistance, agriculture, economic growth and governance.
He said the US response to the catastrophic flooding was the most immediate and visible focus of US assistance during 2010. In close co-operation with Pakistani civilian and military counterparts, the US is "first in, with the most" among the international donors.
He explained that USAID has provided over $547 million for relief and recovery efforts. USAID''s assistance has focused on providing shelter, food, water, health services, and essential supplies to affected communities and displaced families. "We work closely with Pakistan government, business community, civil society and NGOs for effective utilisation of the USAID funds," he added.
Dr Andrew said: "Main purpose of USAID projects in Pakistan is to help develop Pakistan and for the better future of people living here." "We have had excellent co-operation and it''s a continuous process with Pakistan government and civil society," he added.
He said energy sector is now at the top of the list of the USAID projects and during 2011 an amount of dollars 254 million were allocated only in energy sector as compared to dollars 86.5 million spent in 2010. He said: "We are also planning to provide assistance for big energy projects like Bhasha Dam, Satpara Dam and Gomal Dam projects that will generate bulk of electricity."
He said USAID has also been working for the up-gradation of Tarbela Dam which is also a big project to reduce energy crisis in Pakistan. Referring to another project for energy sector, Dr Andrew said, USAID has also launched a project to improve tube well motors in Pakistan that will save 1,000 MW of electricity. He said so far USAID has reached 1,000 farmers in this regard and the initial target is to reach 11,000 farmers. Regarding assistance for Agriculture sector, the USAID Pakistan Mission Director said following the last year floods, USAID provided seeds to the farmers well in time that helped them to increase wheat crop this year.
Another important project is up-gradation of mango farmers and enabling them to export Pakistan''s most delicious mangoes to international market including America and Europe. "Horticulture and dairy development will be the next important segments in the rural areas of Pakistan, where USAID would provide technical and financial assistance," he added.
He said USAID experts would also help Pakistan in improving its Agriculture Policy Reforms so that the potential available in agriculture sector could be utilised in a better way. "The irrigation system improvement was another important sector, where USAID will help Pakistan with the help of International Food Policy Research Institute." The other important sector is economic growth in which USAID spent dollars 165.4 million in 2011.
Dr Andrew further said education is another important sector where USAID has been providing financial assistance to Pakistan. He said during 2011 an amount of $123 million was allocated for this sector that include $85 million for basic education and $38 million for higher education, giving more importance to basic education.
The education sector received $198.6 million in 2009 and $191.6 million in 2008 from the USAID. He said in the assistance for education, the most important things are repair of the schools damaged due to floods, earthquake and operation against the militants. It also includes training of teachers, scholarships to students and improvement of facilities at schools. Replying to a question he said USAID also provided $160 million to Benazir Income Support Programme and expressed satisfaction on the progress of the programme.
"We need to create more awareness among the people about the projects of USAID," he added. Giving the example of USAID projects in Swat, Dr Andrew Sisson said more than 230 hotels were repaired with USAID funds and this year all these hotels showed excellent business and all the hotels remained full to capacity. Replying to a question, he said, efforts are being made to keep the administrative cost minimum possible.
On the issue of accountability and transparency, he said, "Special measures are being taken to ensure accountability and transparency of the funds and sometimes, this tedious process causes delays in the implementation of the projects." He said the USAID Pakistan has 250 member staff and majority of them are Pakistani and almost all the projects are being supervised by the Pakistani engineers and experts.
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