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Kerry-Lugar bill to be passed within weeks, says Patterson

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: The Kerry-Lugar bill, which pledges $7.5 billion in non-military aid to Pakistan, will likely be passed by the US Congress in the next few weeks, US Ambassador Anne Patterson said on Friday.

During a meeting with Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, she said the vast majority of the aid through the Kerry-Lugar Bill would be channelled through established government institutions and mechanisms such as the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and basic health units. She said the US government appreciated the Pakistan government’s stance on giving priority to those displaced by the military operation in Swat and Malakand Division. She also reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to continue supporting Pakistan during the reconstruction of the troubled areas.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani asked the US and other donor countries to provide immediate assistance to help the Pakistan government overcome the nation’s energy crisis. Thanking the US government for co-hosting the Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FoDP) summit, he expressed the hope that this gathering of the leaders of donor nations would provide the impetus for fulfilment of the assistance pledges made in Tokyo. He hoped the World Bank Trust Fund for Pakistan would be announced during the summit. The premier also underlined the urgency to replenish ammunition and equipment to allow the Pakistan Army to bring the campaign against the Taliban to its logical conclusion.

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