The Cabinet, scheduled to meet on Wednesday, is set to approve Australia-Pakistan Development Partnership (APDP) worth $211.2 million for years 2010-13. After the approval of the Cabinet, Australian government and Pakistan would sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on APDP under Rule 16(1) (h) of the Rules of Business 1973.
Peter Baxter, accompanied by Tim George, Australian High Commissioner, met the Minister of State for Finance and Economic Affairs, Hina Rubani Khar, on December 15, 2009 and apprised her of the salient features pertaining to enhanced assistance of Aussie assistance worth $211.2 million during 2010-13.
In December, 2009 Ministry of Foreign Affairs forwarded a draft of APDP document for consideration of Economic Affairs Division (EAD). This partnership seeks to broaden the area of development co-operation along with the quantum of financial assistance for rapid progress towards poverty reduction and achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Pakistan.
Under the APDP, the Australian development assistance will focus on health, education, technical training rural development, agriculture and livestock, economic reform program, good governance and reconstruction and rehabilitation of areas affected by the law enforcement operation.
The draft of APDP document was circulated to all relevant line Ministries; namely, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Planning Commission, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Food & Agriculture and Ministry of Health with the request to give their input in priority areas of these sectors. All relevant Ministries/Divisions supported the idea of entering into partnership with the Australian Government as envisaged in the APDP. The draft of APDP has also been vetted by Law Division to remove legal hitches, if any.