The United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) has agreed to extend its Pakistan programme 2004-2008 for a further two years at the annual session of the Executive Board in New York this week.
Unicef will provide US $28 million in regular resources and request US $86 million from donors to support the Government of Pakistan in its efforts to improve maternal and child health, primary education, child protection, water, environment and sanitation for 2009-2010, says a press release here on Friday.
The Executive Board is Unicef's governing body and supervises its activities around the world. Pakistan's five year country programme draws to a close in 2008, and a request to extend the programme was submitted by the Unicef Regional Director for South Asia, Daniel Toole, who visited Pakistan in May 2008.
The initiative was supported at the Executive Board meeting by the Secretary, Ministry of Health, Khushnood Akhtar Lashari. The extension will bring Unicef Country Programme cycle into alignment with the Government of Pakistan medium term development plan.
"Unicef has worked in partnership with the government and people of Pakistan for over 60 years," said Martin Mogwanja, the Unicef Country Representative. "By approving this new programme of cooperation, the Executive Board of Unicef has reiterated its commitment to helping and empowering Pakistan children and women to live healthy, happy and productive lives contributing to the future of the country."