'USAID committed to carrying out development initiatives'

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is committed to carrying out developmental initiatives under its long-term commitment and interventions of various sectors in war-torn Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and FATA.
The Agency has initiated different schemes for development of education, health and infrastructure and revival of tourism, fishery, and hotels industry said Paul Mc Dermott, USAID Deputy Director KPK/FATA while briefing a group of media persons here at US Consulate, Peshawar, on Friday.
He informed that USAID has rehabilitated more than 130 educational institutions in six districts of the province, including Swat, Bunner, Upper and Lower Dir, Malakand and Shangla. He further added that around 24 schools would be rehabilitated by the end of this year. Dermott said that the Agency has also extended financial assistance for construction of dams and recovery of agriculture and livelihood sectors badly affected in flash floods in the province.
He informed that about US $47 million funds have been provided for provision of better health facilities and instruments at different basic health units and hospitals. The Agency Deputy Director said that the health delivery system has upgraded in Malakand agency, saying that the USAID also extended funds for improvement of water and sanitation system in the province.
"We want Pakistan to succeed, to be more stable and have a more prosperous economy," he said. Under the SME recovery programme, he further informed, the Agency has already spent US $0.8 million for revival of hotels industry and fishery sector in scenic valley of Swat. "Our top priority is to revive agriculture, fishery, tourism, and hotels industry to recovery war-affected economy of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa," he maintained. He said the Agency would also extend funds for hydro-generation projects to meet the growing energy demand of the country. To reply a query, Dermott said that the USAID has kept check on its funding agencies and assessment of overall activities to avoid corruption and maladministration in the funds. He said they have taken serious action against those who were involved in corruption.
He urged that media to highlight development work carried by USAID for the last decades in Pakistan under a long-term commitment. Regarding the FATA development programme, he said that the Agency has initiated different schemes for infrastructure development and reconstruction and rehabilitation road network in tribal region. He informed that about 215-meter long roads have been reconstructed in different areas of Waziristan agency. He further informed that the steps are being taken for revival of marble and gem stone sectors in tribal agencies. He said that USAID would launch a livelihood programme very shortly in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.