Pak must ensure transparency in flood aid distribution for more funds to flow: US

WASHINGTON - The United States has told Pakistan that it will have to show the world that it can spend the flood relief funds transparently in order to get more aid from the international community.

The Obama administration is planning to redirect part of its existing 7.5 billion dollar aid package for Pakistan to flood reconstruction, but Administrator of US Agency for International Development (USAID), Dr Rajiv Shah, clarified that Islamabad would have to assure the world over the accountability of aid that has already been pledged by various countries.

“We are going to work at it, but these are tough economic times around the world and it will require a demonstration of real transparency and accountability and that resources spent in Pakistan get results,” Shah told a foreign news agency during an interview.

Shah said it was important for the Pakistani government to address the concerns of the international community regarding the aid money being misused by corrupt officials, and extremist groups running out the administration’s efforts to take advantage of the prevalent chaotic situation in the flood-hit country.he White House had offered to provide 7.5 billion dollars to Pakistan under the Kerry Lugar aid over the next five years, and Shah said much of that amount would now be spent on flood rebuilding.

“That is absolutely what is required in order to meet the needs of the Pakistani people,” Fox News quoted Shah, as saying.

He noted that much of the spending is already earmarked for the energy, agricultural and water sectors, all three of which have been badly damaged by the devastating floods, which has submerged one-fifth part of the country.

“If you think of just those three areas, going forward I suspect they would be more important. I think we will end up moving even more aggressively in that direction,” Shah said. (ANI)