Pakistan and the United States of America on Sunday signed a new $750 million agreement for the development of social sectors in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).
Representatives of the two countries signed the multi-year agreement for American people's assistance for FATA development amounting to $750 million, which will be spent on different development programmes over the next five years.
The US is providing $105 million this year for the FATA programme, said a US embassy statement here on Sunday. "The United States Government on behalf of the American people understands the importance of delivering resources quickly and effectively to bring essential services to the people of the FATA," US Agency for International Development (USAID) Pakistan Mission Director, Anne Aarnes, said after signing the bilateral agreement with the Secretary, Economic Affairs Division (EAD), M Akram Malik.
The USAID Director said that it was part of a long-term commitment by the United States to assist the Government of Pakistan in addressing the acute development needs of the people of this important region of Pakistan. "We commend the Government of Pakistan in establishing the Sustainable Development Plan for the FATA," Aarnes said.
"We have crafted our assistance activities to directly support this plan, and we look forward to working together closely with FATA officials in its implementation."
The new agreement will be used to support programs in capacity building, livelihoods, agriculture, micro and small and medium enterprises, health, education and infrastructure development in the FATA. The US Ambassador Anne W. Patterson said that the US was dedicating substantial resources to meet the need of Pakistani people, and to build service and institutions over the long run. The government programme will improve health, education, infrastructure, agriculture, governance, and economic dynamism in the tribal areas, he added.
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