The U.S. Foreign Relations Committee Tuesday unanimously approved the Biden-Lugar bill, committing $15 billion of development assistance to Pakistan over next decade, the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported. The action took place on the occasion of the visit of Pakistan's Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani to Washington D.C. and his efforts with the US Congress and the President of the United Sates on behalf of the legislation. Pakistan's envoy to the United States Husain Haqqani said “the government and people of Pakistan are grateful to the members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for their unanimous, bipartisan and broad vote in support of Pakistani democracy”. “Today's action by the Committee heralds a new day in the bilateral relationship between the United States and Pakistan, a relationship that will be founded on mutual interest and mutual values, an economic partnership that transcends political and military relations and directly impacts the life of the people of Pakistan,” he added. “We are especially grateful to the leadership and vision of Senators Biden, Lugar, Kerry and Hagel. The 15 billion dollars commitment to the long term development of a prosperous and stable Pakistan, is a dramatic expression of the confidence and support of the United States Congress in the future of democracy in Pakistan,” Haqqani said.
