US disbursed $ 2.2 bn civilian aid to Pakistan in two years

WASHINGTON: Amid strained ties with Pakistan, the US has disbursed USD 2.2 billion civilian aid to Islamabad in the past two years under the Kerry-Lugar-Berman bill, the State Department has said.

"Since October 2009 the US Government has dispersed some USD 2.2 billion in civilian assistance to Pakistan under the Kerry-Lugar legislation, including about USD 500 million in emergency humanitarian relief," State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland said.

Responding to a question coming to the State Department on its Twitter feed, Nuland said the Kerry-Lugar-Berman bill is extraordinarily important.

"This was the piece of legislation that increased US civilian support for Pakistan and allowed us to greatly expand the cooperative programs that we do together," she said.

This money, she said, allows US to support programmes that help Pakistan improve its economy in vital sectors, for example, in energy, in economic growth, in the stabilization of the border regions, in education, and in health.

"Even though we've had some difficulties, some complications, in our military-to-military relationship over recent months, this part of our relationship, the civilian relationship continues and all of this money continues to flow," she said.

Nuland also highlighted America's valuable assistance to help lay some 210 kilometers of road in the FATA and other parts of Pakistan, to fund Fulbright scholars, so bright leaders of Pakistan's future can come and study in the United States, and also to promote private sector growth in Pakistan.