Obama admin proposes $3.1 billion for Pakistan

Washington, Feb 15: US President Barack Obama has proposed to Congress a USD 3.1 billion in financial assistance to Pakistan for the year 2012.

This is part of the Administration's ongoing effort towards its continued funding for operations and assistance in key regions of the world -Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Of this as many as USD 1.9 billion in assistance has been proposed to promote a secure, stable, democratic and prosperous Pakistan. With a focus on energy, economic growth, agriculture, the delivery of health and education services, and strengthening the Government of Pakistan's capacity to govern effectively and accountably.

USD 1.5 billion of this is part of the Kerry-Lugar-Berman Bill.

Another USD 45 million has been proposed in operations to support infrastructure for maintaining the US government civilian and diplomatic presence. Also, to support educational and cultural exchange programs to build bridges with civil society.

"We have USD 350 million in that part of the budget for Foreign Military Financing (FMF) programs, which is part of the five-year agreement that we have made with the government of Pakistan," a State Department official told reporters.

In addition to USD 1.9 billion, Obama has also proposed USD 1.2 billion to Pakistan under the Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) Budget.

This includes USD 1.1 billion for the Pakistan Counterinsurgency Capability Fund (PCCF) to provide critical equipment and training for Pakistani security forces. Increasing the ability of the Pakistani government to combat insurgents inside that country and eliminating the insurgent's capacity is also a part of the agreement. Meanwhile, to conduct cross-border operations in Afghanistan that jeopardize US lives and the mission there.

In 2010, Pakistan received USD 79 million under OCO budget, which is estimated to jump to USD 1.3 billion in 2011.

"So the unique part of the budget, the extraordinary part of the budget is the PCCF. The enduring part of the budget is more of our economic and military assistance that's going to be sustainable over the long term," he said.

"An OCO budget is of great help as we transition from military-led to civilian-led operations since it provides a mechanism through which we can view and budget for a transition to a more normal diplomatic presence in these countries when appropriate," the budgetary proposals said.

PTI