NGOs press US to not channel Pakistan aid through govt

[Naveed Yaseen]

WASHINGTON: The $1.5 billion a year US aid package proposed for Pakistan has raised hackles among many US aid groups who worry that channelling large amounts of money through the country’s fragile government will backfire.
“We have highlighted the risk of running large amounts of money through the government of Pakistan and that this would end up biting them,” said one aid group executive.
US-based groups with projects in Pakistan have met several times in recent weeks with Obama administration officials to voice concern over the handling of the five-year package, which will be tackled differently from previous aid. Aside from worries US funds are more likely to be lost to corruption if distributed through the government, there are also fears US-based groups working in Pakistan will lose some of their own funding in favour of local NGOs and civil society groups.
Meanwhile, a Pakistani development consultant, Zulfiqar Ali, said Pakistani aid groups were gearing up for new funds, adding there were also concerns locally about the government’s involvement. reuters

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