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Clinton Announces Massive Aid for Pakistan

Clinton Announces Massive Aid for Pakistan's People

By Merle David Kellerhals Jr. Staff Writer

Washington - Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton announced a series of U.S. commitments to projects in Pakistan aimed at improving agricultural development, electric power generation, dams, new hospital construction, and programs to help empower women.

Clinton told reporters following the U.S.-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue that the projects reaffirm the United States' long-term commitment to improve security, protect the Pakistani people, help drive economic development, and strengthen Pakistani democratic institutions. The assistance also is designed to help end a legacy of mistrust, she added.

Many of the new assistance projects are part of a previously approved $7.5 billion in U.S. civilian aid spread over a five-year period that was announced by President Obama in 2009.

Under a three-year, $28 million Signature Health Program for Pakistan ( http://www.america.gov/st/texttrans-english/2010/July/20100719115847su0.6616938.html ), the United States and Pakistan have consulted on Pakistan's National Health Policy, which outlines the priorities for the nation, including family planning, mother and child health, workforce development, and combating infectious diseases to meet the U.N. Millennium Development Goals. As part of the program, the United States will take on three projects to renovate and build medical facilities.

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The United States will finance the design and construction of a 60-bed obstetrics and gynecology surgical ward and training institute for up to 150 medical students at the Karachi Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Center. The hospital currently handles more than 18,000 inpatients and 31,000 outpatients, more than 5,000 operations and 17,000 annual deliveries. And the United States will help renovate new wards, a midwifery school and doctor and nursing residential facilities at the Lahore Lady Willingdon Hospital, the largest maternity hospital in Pakistan.

Clinton also announced that the United States will provide technical management assistance and renovations to the Jacobabad Civil Hospital that serves a population of about 1 million people in northern Sindh and Balochistan.

WATER AND AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS

Clinton announced a multi-year Signature Water Program ( http://www.america.gov/st/texttrans-english/2010/July/20100719121619su6.019229e-02.html ) to improve the country's ability to efficiently manage its water resources and improve water distribution. The first phase of the program will cover seven projects costing more than $270 million.

The projects included in this phase are: Jacobabad and Peshawar municipal water projects; municipal services delivery; Gomal Zam Dam irrigation project; Satpara Dam project; high-efficiency irrigation project; Balochistan water storage dams; and expert consultations.

The United States is providing $21 million for projects supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) that will help improve Pakistan's farm productivity and open new market opportunities ( http://www.america.gov/st/texttrans-english/2010/July/20100719165004su0.1405407.html ), Clinton said. The first project supports a public-private partnership designed to improve the ability of women to manage rural dairy-related businesses and conduct business domestically and internationally.

The second project promotes the export by sea of Pakistan's mangos. USAID will support a three-year infrastructure program in partnership with leading mango farms in the southern Punjab and northern Sindh provinces to jointly finance infrastructure such as hot water treatment facilities, sorting and grading machines, blast chillers and cold storage facilities.

Clinton also announced several government-to-government partnerships ( http://www.america.gov/st/texttrans-english/2010/July/20100719170712su0.4610712.html ) with Pakistan that will strengthen cooperation in new information technologies, enhance mutual understanding between diplomats and support the preservation of Pakistan's national heritage. The projects range from data centers to citizen electronic services to historic archives preservation and other historic preservation efforts.

The United States also announced a series of programs to promote private sector-led economic growth and job creation ( http://www.america.gov/st/texttrans-english/2010/July/20100719171344su0.6937525.html ) that is part of the government economic-reform program. The programs will be administered by USAID, the U.S. Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), the U.S. Commerce Department, and the U.S. Trade & Development Agency (TDA).

ENERGY PROGRAM

Clinton announced the second phase of the Signature Energy Program ( http://www.america.gov/st/texttrans-english/2010/July/20100719112824su0.1294214.html ) for Pakistan that will provide an additional $60 million for seven projects that will be implemented by USAID, TDA, Commerce and the U.S. Geological Survey. Projects include power house and transmission components in South Waziristan; a dam project in Satpara; natural gas assistance; a smart grid and distribution modernization study; a biomass-fueled boiler feasibility study for the Bulleh Shah Paper Mill; a study of the Gharol Corridor wind farm's feasibility; and a study to assess the technical, financial and economic feasibility of installing solar power systems in hundreds of private schools administered by the Beaconhouse Group and owned by Educational Services Limited, the largest private educational services company in Pakistan.

A new five-year, $40 million Gender Equity Program ( http://www.america.gov/st/texttrans-english/2010/July/20100719170336su0.2060358.html ) to be funded by USAID is aimed at advancing women's rights and empowerment in Pakistan. The project will expand women's access to justice, help women exercise their rights in the workplace, the community and their homes, and combat gender-based violence.

Clinton also announced $120 million for four programs to help Pakistanis affected by conflict ( http://www.america.gov/st/texttrans-english/2010/July/20100719165908su0.6005976.html ) to re-establish their lives in their home areas.

ENDS

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