Pak, US asks media for explanation on ‘Cash to Pakistan missing’ report

ISLAMABAD - Pakistani Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh has asked the country’s media to give an explanation on the reports it published on September 25 alleging that 133 million dollars of US aid to Pakistan was missing.

According to the Daily Times, the US has also demanded an explanation from the Pakistani press about its assertion that claimed that ‘Cash to Pakistan missing’.

In this regard, a meeting was reportedly organised by the Economic Affairs Division secretary on September 26, which was attended by Finance Special Secretary Robert Wilson, the USAID (Pakistan) director and the representatives of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government.

In the meeting, the USAID representative clarified that the news items were based on the report of the USIAD inspector general, which were meant for USAID internal controls and not for the government. He further claimed that amount of 133 million dollars, which the press claimed was missing, is not correct.

“The actual amount received by the government is 129 million dollars, which includes 44 million dollars for IDP’s and 85 million dollars for the BISP. Both these amounts were released by USAID during the year 2009-10 after carrying out due diligence on the disbursement processes by independent auditors appointed by USAID,” he added. (ANI)