US officials have confirmed that, similar to other nations, aid to Pakistan has been temporarily suspended, leading to the disruption of several critical development projects.
Recently, the US Department of State instructed all diplomatic and consular missions to immediately suspend foreign aid programs. This suspension, initially set for 90 days, impacts countries including Ukraine, Taiwan, Jordan, and others.
According to Express News, US officials stated that all aid programs for Pakistan have been paused pending a reassessment. This decision has affected multiple sectors within the country.
The suspension includes the halting of the Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation projects and the closure of five major energy sector initiatives. Additionally, four economic growth programs and five agricultural development projects have had their funding withdrawn.
Programs related to democracy, human rights, and governance have also been temporarily suspended, along with aid for four education and four health projects. Moreover, 11 governance-related initiatives have been impacted by this directive.
US officials emphasised that the suspension is temporary and the future of these projects will be determined after a comprehensive reassessment of all aid programs.
Shortly after assuming office for his second term on January 20, President Trump signed an executive order mandating a 90-day pause on foreign development assistance to review ongoing programs.
The order states: “It is the policy of the United States that no further United States foreign assistance shall be disbursed in a manner that is not fully aligned with the foreign policy of the President of the United States.”
Following this, the US State Department issued a memo announcing the suspension of nearly all new foreign aid funding, with exceptions granted for key Middle Eastern allies such as Israel and Egypt.
The directive also provided an exemption for emergency food assistance and related expenses.
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In a statement on Sunday, the State Department defended the measures, quoting President Trump: “President Trump stated clearly that the United States is no longer going to blindly dole out money with no return for the American people.”
