THE UNITED STATES AND PAKISTAN SIGNED A $22.1 MILLION AGREEMENT TO SUPPORT LOCAL GOVERNANCE, STRENGTHEN PARLIAMENTARY INSTITUTIONS, AND PROVIDE COMMODITIES AND ASSISTANCE TO PROMOTE FAIR ELECTIONS. THE AGREEMENT WILL FUND U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (USAID) PROGRAMS, WHICH ARE IMPLEMENTED IN COOPERATION WITH GOVERNMENTAL AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS, SAID A U.S. EMBASSY ISLAMABAD STATEMENT. THE BILATERAL AGREEMENT WAS SIGNED BY USAID-PAKISTAN DIRECTOR JONATHAN ADDLETON AND PAKISTAN ECONOMIC AFFAIRS DIVISION SECRETARY KHALID SAEED. ADDLETON SAID ON THE OCCASION THAT, “WHETHER THROUGH THE SUPPORT OF AN INSTITUTE FOR LEGISLATIVE SERVICES IN PARLIAMENT OR BY WORKING WITH DISTRICT GOVERNMENTS, USAID'S GOVERNANCE PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO INCREASE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND CITIZENRY AND IMPROVE THE ABILITY OF GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS TO SERVE THE PEOPLE.” THE STATEMENT SAID USAID'S DISTRICTS THAT WORK PROGRAM WILL IMPROVE DISTRICT GOVERNMENTS' ABILITY TO DELIVER HIGH-QUALITY PUBLIC SERVICES EFFICIENTLY, PARTICULARLY HEALTH AND EDUCATION SERVICES.
