The governments of the United States and Pakistan Thursday signed an agreement that provides $200 million (approximately 12 billion Rupees) in direct U.S. budget support for Pakistan's Federal Public Sector Development Program (PSDP), 2006-2007. This bilateral agreement was signed by U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Ryan C. Crocker, U. S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Director Jonathan Addleton, Minister of State for Economic Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar, and Secretary for Economic Affairs Division Khalid Saeed, says a U.S. Embassy statement in Islamabad. At the signing ceremony Ambassador Crocker commented that this assistance demonstrates the strong support of the American people for Pakistan's efforts to address its development challenges. Minister of State, Hina Rabbani Khar, noted that cooperation between the United States and Pakistan is making both countries stronger. These funds support the Government of Pakistan's strategic goals in poverty reduction, she added.
