The first tranche worth around $180 million of the Kerry-Lugar package, under which the US would provide Pakistan civilian aid of $7.5 billion over the next five years, has arrived in Pakistan. This was stated by US Ambassador Anne W Patterson after announcing a $12 million or one-billion-rupee support for the victims of Boulton Market arson at the American Business Council (ABC) on Wednesday.
She was flanked by Stephen Fakan, US Consul General in Karachi, the members and office-bearers of ABC, which not only had proposed the fund but would also provide managerial and organisational support to ensure its transparent use. Responding to a question about the fate of the legislation, which had sparked controversy at the institutional-level in Pakistan, the American ambassador said the first instalment of the Kerry-Lugar package has arrived in Pakistan.
She said Washington had provided the government institutions for undertaking various projects like $80 million given to Higher Education Commission, $40 million for the vocational training center and around $60 million in connection with the rehabilitation of internally displaced persons (IDPs) of Swat.
"This is the first down payment under the Kerry-Lugar Bill," she said expressing her eagerness to correct the media record of US' taxpayers' money being used in a wide-ranging area in Pakistan in the shape of aid and assistance. Earlier, the US ambassador expressed her grief over the recent terrorist violence, which, she said, had rocked this vibrant city during Ashura, leaving so many people dead and injured and so much destruction.
"It is now clear that Taliban seek to destroy Pakistan's democracy and that they will exploit any fissure in Pakistan to attain their goals," she said. She said the rioting and destruction that took place after the attack worsened the tragedy manifold as the businesses, livelihoods and savings of a large numbber of people were destroyed. According to Patterson, some of the small businesses will have difficulty in obtaining access to credit in the amounts that they required to start anew.
"I am pleased to... announce the US government support, with the amount of one billion rupees... for an initiative by this public-spirited group of American Business representatives in Pakistan to structure financial assistance for the many small businesses of this city that suffered losses during and after the recent Boulton Market attack," she declared.
But, she said, the losses have gone beyond damage to property and businesses. "So the American Business Council has proposed that we also work on a programme to help the victims of the violence and families left without wage earners. I have asked that my staff also work with the Council on an assessment of the damage done by the attack to help facilitate a speedy mobilisation of the US and others' support to victims of this tragedy," she said. The US envoy said it was abundantly clear that the business leaders of Pakistan could not remain on the sidelines during the important work that needed to be done this year to strengthen their country.
"In this new democratic framework, Pakistan's business leaders need to roll up their sleeves and pitch in," Patterson said. On the occasion the ABC officials told journalists that their representatives were operating in the affected areas to ascertain the extent of damages as well as get verification of losses, an issue which, Patterson believes, always surfaces in all kinds of destruction. According to the ABC office-bearers options, such as soft loans and grants from banks would also be considered as per need.