Pakistan to provide $500 mn development aid to Afghanistan

BRUSSELS: Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, while addressing the Brussels Conference on Afghanistan, has pledged that the government of Pakistan will provide $500 million for economic development projects in Afghanistan.

This is in addition to $500 million existing package under which projects in infrastructure, education and health are nearing completion. Aziz also underlined the importance of a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan for Pakistan.

Sartaj Aziz also announced that Pakistan has provided 3000 scholarships to Afghan students for higher education, and will provide another 3000 scholarships for Afghan students in Pakistani universities in the fields of medicine, engineering, banking and other fields to help institution building in the war-ravaged country.

The Brussels Conference is being held as a sequel to the Tokyo Conference held in 2012 for affirming international community’s engagement with Afghanistan through economic and financial assistance for Afghanistan.

Aziz emphasised that politically negotiated settlement was the most viable option for bringing lasting peace to Afghanistan and welcomed the peace deal signed between Afghan government and Hizb-i-Islami leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar.

He assuring Pakistan will continue efforts for peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan through the Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG). He said our message to Taliban remained to shun violence and join the peace process.

 

#Pakistan4PeaceinAfghanistan Government of Pakistan’s fresh pledge of $500 million for economic development projects in Afghanistan.

— SpokespersonMOFA (@ForeignOfficePk) October 5, 2016