US Senate Passes Bill to Triple Aid to Pak(to 1.5 Bil per year)

[tekisui]

Source: Manorama Online

Pittsburgh/New York: The US Senate unanimously passed the revised version of the Kerry-Lugar bill which triples non-military aid to Pakistan to $1.5 billion per annum, pledging America's long term commitment to its key ally against extremism. An identical version of the bill was introduced in the House of Representatives and is expected to be passed any time now.

The announcement in this regard was made by US President Barack Obama during his address to a meeting of the Friends of Democratic Pakistan at the UN headquarters in New York.

"For the first time in modern era the US congress has made a multi-year commitment to Pakistan," Richard Holbrooke, Obama's special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, said in New York.

Pakistan has already received a billion dollars pledged in Tokyo and $330 million raised to support the country's refugees.

"It isn't in my view enough. You all know that I think the world should help Pakistan even more but it is a very big commitment," Holbrooke said.

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