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US envoy, Taseer discuss utilisation of KL aid

Staff Report

LAHORE: Former US assistant secretary of state for South Asia and supervisor of the Kerry-Lugar legislation Robin Raphel called on Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer at the Governor’s House on Monday. The governor’s wife Aamna Taseer was also present.

The officials discussed increased US cooperation to develop social and economic sectors of the country. Taseer appreciated Washington’s efforts for building confidence with Islamabad. He said funds from the Kerry-Lugar legislation would be spent on education, health and poverty alleviation, adding there was a dearth of hospitals for treatment of cancer, hepatitis and heart-related problems that resulted in several deaths every year. He said a part of the grant from the Kerry-Lugar legislation would be utilised for constructing modern hospitals. The Punjab governor said the US should also provide market access to Pakistan’s textile products, adding Washington should provide training to teachers and help Pakistan upgrade its educational institutes to bring them at par with international standards.

Taseer said poverty and illiteracy were the main causes of extremism, adding the government was doing all it could to eliminate poverty and develop the education sector. He asked the US and other international donors to support Pakistan in doing so. Raphel appreciated Taseer’s suggestions, saying Washington would make all efforts to support Pakistan.

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