(Reuters) - Pakistan’s most populous province has canceled six aid agreements with the United States in protest over the U.S. raid that killed Osama bin Laden, its law minister said on Friday. Pakistan hailed bin Laden’s death as a big step against militancy but was incensed by the raid in a garrison town not far from the capital, saying it was a violation of sovereignty.
The operation severely strained already uneasy ties between the United States and Pakistan, whose cooperation is needed to stabilize Afghanistan.
“We have canceled six MOUs (memorandums of understanding) with the United States in the fields of health, education and solid waste management,” said Rana Sanaullah, Law Minister of Punjab, the country’s political nerve center.
“We have told their concerned departments about our decision. This is our protest against the Abbottabad incident.”
The Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) opposition party, which rules Punjab, has called for a review of the country’s ties with Washington, urging the central government to reduce reliance on foreign aid.
A PML-N spokesman said Punjab had been expected to get 20 billion rupees ($232.55 million) for welfare projects in the next three years from the United States.
“This will not have much effect as the amount is quite small and it (the decision) has not been taken by the federal government but instead the provincial government,” said Asif Qureshi, analyst at Invisor Securities, a brokerage firm based in Karachi.
Bin Laden’s presence in Pakistan has led to calls by some U.S. congressmen to cut aid to the country.
Pakistan is struggling to revive its economy, which depends heavily on an $11 billion International Monetary fund loan to stay afloat.
To get the remaining tranches of the loan, which was secured in 2008, Pakistan must implement politically unpopular reforms such as broadening its tax base and reforming the energy sector.
One of the lowest tax-to-GDP ratio in the world of around 10 percent has increased Pakistan’s reliance on foreign funds and loans, even for development projects.
Pakistan received $20 billion in U.S. military and economic aid in the past 20 years.
U.S. special forces killed bin Laden on May 2.
The United States says there is no evidence Pakistan’s leadership was aware he was in their country, and top U.S. defense officials, speaking in Washington this week, cautioned against any action that could harm ties with Islamabad.
(Reporting by Mubasher Bukhari; Additional reporting by Sahar Ahmaed; Writing by Augustine Anthony; Editing by Michael Georgy and Daniel Magnowski)
How much US-Aid Punjab was getting any way? the report says USD 232 Million, which is petty amount any way... and rest of the aid is for Military support which just goes to Army and related departments which Punjab have no control... let see if they make it part of their policy or if they just use to exploit public sentiment
MOU = Memorandum of UNDERSTANDING = Documents of INTENT only. There is no certified amount attached to these things and they're usually very open-ended in nature.
Misleading headline to cash on anti-western sentiments and nothing tangible in effect.
Still, I want to know how Shahbaz "Lion"/Kittypoo will explain this egregious insolence to the US ambassador. Maybe we'll have to wait for the next wikileaks for that ;)
Some of us here like to be spoonfed by the media, which unfortunately reflects the general low state of intellect in Pakistan, relying on conspiracy theories, muckracking and mudslinging. Independent analysis is an unknown phenomenon for a lot I guess.
I repeat, there is NO certified amount attached to these MOUs, PMLN and their spokesmen have just sunk even lower in credibility by saying that they expect a certain specific amount out of these things.
The priority of health and education in front of Shahbaz Sharif can be judged from the fact that there are no ministers for those portfolios. I think his image has been further tarnished by the standoff he had with the doctors, for over 30 days the people were being killed due to non availability of doctors but the government was not concerned at all. And in the end Shahbaz said that I was being misled by the secretary health.
you are right, but all are politicians or parties are the same, so it wont make any difference to the people...being in opposition pmln should have had their plans for economy, foreign policy and defence, but they have nothing to offer...any party can come into power the situation of Pakistanis will remain the same!
you are right, but all are politicians or parties are the same, so it wont make any difference to the people...being in opposition pmln should have had their plans for economy, foreign policy and defence, but they have nothing to offer...any party can come into power the situation of Pakistanis will remain the same!
u were saying as PML-N is made of pro-pakistani politicians...
Punjab didn’t inform USAID about future of projects
The USAID has said the Punjab government has not informed about the cancellation of US projects.
The work on the projects still continues.
**Punjab CM announced to halt the projects after unilateral US operation in Abbottabad.
According to sources, it was just a political statement on the part of the CM and there have been three meetings between the CM and US Consulate Principal Officer Carmela and work on over two dozen projects continues. There is a direct agreement between the USAID and the Punjab government. **
the government at that time said that they had cancelled six projects going on with American Aid, and SS has since then met thrice with the American Counsel to discuss the on going projects. Thats a good thing all politicians do that, carry out stunts to make fool of the country.
^^ I don't remember it exactly, it was Rana Sanaullah Khan, who said they didn't mean to cut all aid.... and i didn't bother reading beyond that point.. because that was CORRECTION
and it took you so long to find out, Punjab govt made a correction in their statement i think within 72 hours of issuing it.. have u not seen it???
Thats how you achieve "political stunts", make a big statement in press, few days later send some chota to press and file a correction.
