US aid programme failed to achieve its goals in Pak: Report

LONDON - The US aid programme in Pakistan, which was started with an aim of stabilising the troubled tribal regions of the country, has failed to achieve its goals.

According to an audit conducted by the Obama administration, the aid programme has hardly helped the Pakistan government to counter the ever-expanding threat from the Taliban and the Al-Qaeda.

The audit, which was conducted earlier this week and has been posted on the website of the office of the Inspector General, said that there has been ‘little progress’ in achieving the target of the aid programme.

The audit revealed that the contractor, Development Alternatives Inc, had requested 15 million dollars in June 2009 from the government to continue with the work, but was given 4.7 million dollars only.

It criticised the concerned agencies for not yielding the desired results and the way in which the whole programme was planned and implemented.

“A plan to install computers and train staff to use them at the agency’s headquarters in Peshawar had barely got off the ground and had set unrealistic goals. 340 of the 400 computers delivered remained boxed up and unused,” The Express.co.uk quoted the audit report, as saying.

None of the officials associated with the programme have come out with clarifications over the audit’s findings. (ANI)