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‘$2.6bn FoDP aid to be received this fiscal year’

By Sajid Chaudhry

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan would receive $2.6 billion from the Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FoDP) in the ongoing fiscal year, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Sardar Assef Ahmed Ali said on Wednesday.

Out of a total of $5.7 billion commitments made at Tokyo Conference for the next two years, Pakistan is striving hard to ensure disbursement of at least over $2 billion during ongoing fiscal year 2009-10.

Talking to media after attending the National Assembly Standing Committee on Privatisation, Sardar Assef said the projects submitted to the FoDP have been very important for Pakistan to meet the needs of different areas. He said that he was very much hopeful that money committed against them would be released by the FoDP during the ongoing fiscal.

In the energy sector, Pakistan has sought $8.554 billion soft loan facility investment for the construction of Thar coal development project, $6.095 billion for Bunji Hydropower Plant and $709 million Guddu Thermal Power plant.

Pakistan’s flagship poverty alleviation, empowerment and employment programme worth $4.436 billion has also been placed before the FoDP member countries for possible financing. This programme includes $1.102 billion for access to health, $1.858 billion for girls secondary school education, $363 million for safety net for the vulnerable, $652 million for skill development for livelihood, $321 million for national employment programme and $140 million for population welfare programme.

Pakistan is eyeing $2.880 billion investment or soft term loans for the development of agriculture sector from FoDP partners and $1.4234 billion for the construction of 32 small and medium dams across the country.

Some $2.3 billion have been sought from FoDP partners which include barrage protection $225 million, irrigation net work improvement $1.3 billion, Flood protection $375 million, Water logging $300 million, R&D in agri sector at $100 million.

In the area of reduction in post harvest losses and increase in efficiency GoP has sought $1.515 billion including construction of grain storages (3.5 metric tonne capacity) worth $390 million, farm to market roads $1 billion and cool chain infrastructure $125 million.

In the area of productivity enhancement investment to the tune of $390 million has been sought from FoDP.

Government of Pakistan has also sought help in the area of value addition and institutional development aid or investment of $975 million that includes small scale dairy development $300 million, national programme for livestock breeding $200 million, agriculture commodity storage and trade centre $125 million, up gradation of provincial research system $350 million.

In the area of transport and communication, the government is seeking $3.58 billion foreign assistance, included $975 million for roads development (Lawari Tunnel, Gwadar linkages and up gradation of KKH roads).

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