World | Afghanistan
Britain to double aid to offset militancy
Britain is to double assistance to Pakistan to £480 million (Dh3.51 billion) by 2011, with greater emphasis on the militancy-plagued border with Afghanistan.
- AP
- Published: 00:07 July 4, 2008
Islamabad: Britain is to double assistance to Pakistan to £480 million (Dh3.51 billion) by 2011, with greater emphasis on the militancy-plagued border with Afghanistan.
The increase in aid will make Islamabad the second biggest recipient of British aid.
The aid increase was announced by British Secretary of State for International Development, Douglas Alexander, during a meeting with Finance Minister Syed Naveed Qamar in Islamabad, the ministry said in a statement.
"UK assistance will continue to focus on health... and on good governance and earthquake-affected areas' reconstruction," the ministry said, referring to reconstruction of a northern region devastated by an earthquake in October 2005.
Emphasis on education
"There will now be an additional emphasis on assistance to the border areas as well as on education, with more than £250 million being made available to bring 5 million children into school," it said.
Taliban militants battling British and other foreign troops in Afghanistan have sanctuaries in lawless regions along the border, where militants also plot violence in Western countries.
Alexander said Britain had for many years been committed to helping Pakistan fight poverty and aimed to continue to help ensure people had access to better healthcare, schools and job opportunities, the ministry said.
Britain would also provide £50 million to the State Bank to open financial services to poor people, it said.
Afghanistan
Afghan child labour may rise as aid dried up
People smugglers
Rebels 'to retake Kabul after Nato withdrawal'
Afghan woman killed for giving birth to girl
Afghan woman killed, apparently for bearing girl
Britain sticks to 2014 pull-out
It's a new start for Afghanistan
Afghans hit by rising food prices
More from World
News Editor's choice
-
6,000 cups and counting: Addicted to that tea
This cafeteria in Al Mamzar attracts thousands of customers daily, including the rich and not so rich
-
Swimming pool horror: Twins hospitalised
Twins rushed to hospital after collapsing from chlorine inhalation at swimming pool in their villa
-
Play your cards right with credit card interest
UAE Central Bank plans to cap interest rates, but are you paying thirty-five per cent now?
