Senior representatives of the United States and Pakistan Sunday signed a new multi-year agreement for American peoples' assistance to Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) development amounting to $750 million over the next five years, according to a U.S. Embassy Islamabad statement. The United States is providing $105 million this year for the FATA programme. The United States Government on behalf of the American people understands the importance of delivering resources quickly and effectively to bring essential services to the people of the FATA, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Pakistan Mission Director Anne Aarnes, said after signing the bilateral agreement with the Secretary, Economic Affairs Division, M. Akram Malik. The USAID Director said that it is part of a long-term commitment by the United States to assist the Government of Pakistan in addressing the acute development needs of the people of this important region of Pakistan. The new agreement will be used to support programs in capacity building, livelihoods, agriculture, micro and small and medium enterprises, health, education and infrastructure development in the FATA.
