Pakistani President Honors USAID Administrator Samantha Power with Prestigious Award

Islamabad, Pakistan—On the occasion of Pakistan Day, March 23, 2024, the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan bestowed the prestigious 'Hilal-e-Quaid-i-Azam' (Leadership) award on USAID Administrator Samantha Power for her leadership in supporting Pakistan during the devastating floods of 2022. This significant event, held in Islamabad, symbolized the profound partnership between the United States and Pakistan and their shared commitment to progress and collaboration. Former USAID Deputy Mission Director, Michael Rossman, was also recognized with an award. Accepting the award on behalf of the Administrator, USAID Mission Director, Kate Somvongsiri, acknowledged the significance of the honor. Also, in a video message, Administrator Power expressed her gratitude, underscoring the pivotal role of USAID in supporting Pakistan during challenging times. She reiterated USAID's steadfast commitment to standing with Pakistan, guiding it through the recovery process and toward a brighter future. She also thanked the people of Pakistan for recognizing the enduring partnership between the two nations. During the 2022 floods, the United States, led by USAID, was crucial to the emergency response. The U.S. contribution, totaling over $215 million, was further bolstered by significant donations exceeding $37 million from private American citizens and companies. This collective effort enabled the delivery of vital supplies, emergency shelter, clean water, food, and medicines to affected communities. Beyond immediate relief, USAID has continued to support Pakistan in long-term disaster resilience and food security initiatives. Their projects, focusing on water management, climate-smart agriculture, and climate adaptation finance, are a testament to their commitment to building a more resilient and prosperous future for vulnerable communities in Pakistan.

U.S. Ambassador Blome’s Meeting with Finance Minister Aurangzeb

U.S. Ambassador Donald Blome met today with the Minister for Finance Muhammad Aurangzeb to discuss further U.S. cooperation and support for Pakistan’s efforts to meet its reform targets, including improvement of the country’s tax administration and investment climate. Ambassador Blome noted the U.S. government’s support for Pakistan’s work with the IMF to complete its current Stand-By Arrangement (SBA). Ambassador Blome underscored his commitment to expanding further U.S.-Pakistan economic cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

U.S. Ambassador Blome’s Meeting with Prime Minister Sharif The below is attributable to Acting U.S. Mission Spokesperson Thomas Montgomery: U.S. Ambassador Donald Blome met today with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to discuss a broad range of bilateral issues, including partnering with the Government of Pakistan on regional security, U.S. support for continued economic reforms with and through the IMF, trade and investment, education, climate change, and private sector-led economic growth. Ambassador Blome expressed U.S. support for Pakistan’s democracy and the key role of an independent press. The Ambassador and Prime Minister also discussed how both countries can work together to accelerate projects addressing climate change under the U.S.-Pakistan Green Alliance framework.

U.S. Embassy Empowers 150 Women to Launch Entrepreneurial Journeys Islamabad – March 9, 2024: The U.S. Embassy launched the fourth Pakistan cohort of its “Academy for Women Entrepreneurs” (AWE) program at the Lincoln Reading Lounge at the National Library of Pakistan. Bettina Malone, Minister Counselor for Public Affairs, launched this year’s cohort of the AWE which is set to empower 150 participants from Lahore, Rawalpindi/Islamabad, Peshawar, Quetta and Karachi. The AWE program is an entrepreneurship program that includes peer-to-peer learning and local mentorship, to help participants build their own businesses and seek innovative scaling opportunities. This worldwide U.S. Department of State training program supports women across the globe in building their own businesses, harnessing the power of public-private sponsors, local partnerships, and U.S. Exchange Alumni networks to help their businesses grow. AWE is driving prosperity in communities in more than 100 countries. In Pakistan this program is empowering women to realize their economic potential and increase prosperity for all. During her remarks, Malone spoke about the need to support women entrepreneurs noting, “When women are successful, communities prosper, and countries thrive.” With mentoring and guidance from established Pakistani entrepreneurs, the 150 participants in AWE 2024 will undertake a rigorous three-month online training program developed by Arizona State University’s Thunderbird School of Global Management and American natural resource company Freeport McMoran. Through AWE, participants learn core business skills and meet weekly to discuss what they are learning with experienced local mentors and U.S. experts. AWE is designed to cultivate entrepreneurial know-how, help women entrepreneurs connect with funding opportunities, enhance opportunities for business expansion, and increase the likelihood of entrepreneurial success. Five of the U.S. Mission to Pakistan’s Lincoln Corners in Lahore, Rawalpindi/Islamabad, Peshawar, Quetta and Karachi will lead AWE Pakistan 2024 with support from the Pakistan American Cultural Center. Toward the end of their AWE journey, participants will have the opportunity to compete for seed funding from the U.S. Mission to Pakistan to further grow or establish their enterprises. Upon completion, participants will join the global AWE network, which offers further growth opportunities, as well as the community of U.S. exchange program alumni. To learn more about AWE, please visit: https://eca.state.gov/awe or see the attached factsheet.

Lodhi analyses political crisis

Lodhi analyses political crisis THE new government has assumed power in an environment marked by political turmoil, polarisation and controversy over the election. In his second stint as prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif heads a fragile six-party coalition, with his party lacking a majority and dependent for its survival on the PPP, which has opted to support the government while declining to join the cabinet. This means the government will have to engage in sustained efforts to keep the PPP and other allies happy and meet their demands to retain their support. The minority government will face the vulnerabilities of coalition politics and have to deal with unpredictable coalition partners, with little assurance of stability. All this could distract it from the job of governance. The Sharif government will face other constraints on its exercise of power. With PTI intent on resorting to agitational politics this will present the ruling coalition with a continuing challenge. As the opposition constitutes a large bloc in the National Assembly it will make the task of conducting parliamentary business more difficult. The disruptive conduct of PTI-backed MNAs in the Assembly’s initial sessions indicates the shape of things to come, especially as they promise to stage protests in every session. With little prospect of any pause in government-opposition tensions much less agreement on working parliament, their confrontation will pose obstacles to legislation and even paralyse proceedings. The continuing hybrid arrangement in which the military establishment has secured an expansive, informal role in governance will also limit the government’s power. In his previous term in office, Sharif ceded even more ground to the establishment. This is unlikely to be reversed or diminish in any significant way. It will mean the establishment will have continuing sway on how the country is run. Then there is the complex provincial landscape in which PML-N only controls one province, with the other three provinces run by different parties and a hostile government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. This will also place limits on the Sharif government. Managing centre-province relations will pose an obvious challenge and require a deft combination of pragmatism and firmness. It will make the task of forging a national consensus on federal government policies more compelling and yet more problematic. With constraints on its power the Sharif government has many challenges to navigate. But none of these constraints should deter or prevent the government from charting a way to meet the many challenges the country faces. That, after all, is its responsibility. For this, the prime minister would need to evolve a clear and coherent policy agenda and select a competent team while avoiding the kind of unwieldy, bloated cabinet he appointed in his previous term. The economic challenge is, of course, the most consequential and the choice of finance minister all-important. The Sharif government has to brace itself to take tough and politically painful decisions in order to secure the larger, extended programme it plans to seek from the IMF given Pakistan’s heavy foreign debt service obligations ahead. The economic challenge is an imposing one, but the government should see an opportunity in this crisis. The choice for the government is stark. It can steer the country out of the present crisis by the same kind of fire-fighting responses witnessed in the past — more borrowing, bailouts and accumulating greater debt while postponing reform and creating no capacity to repay higher levels of debt. This, however, will only guarantee another crisis down the road and do nothing to spur growth and investment or contain the record level of inflation. This band-aid approach is, in any case, now untenable. Alternatively, it can use the ongoing crisis as an opportunity to launch wide-ranging structural reforms and break out of the vicious cycle the economy is mired in — unsustainable financial imbalances, heavy domestic and foreign borrowing, soaring inflation, low savings and investment and stagnant growth. Many countries across the world faced an economic crisis more formidable than the one Pakistan is confronted with. But they were able to use that as an opportunity to bounce back stronger and more resilient. Southeast Asian nations that experienced a financial crisis in 1997 did that by undertaking fundamental reform and addressing structural problems through tough economic measures. Similarly, India in the 1990s and several Latin American states in the 1980s and 1990s went through severe economic crises; they managed to not just recover but also embark on a path of robust growth and build economic sustainability. In each case, wrenching structural adjustments, tight fiscal policy and other reform measures were launched by leaders aided by able teams who were convinced that long-term commitment and consistent policy implementation were essential to move forward and that patchwork ‘solutions’ were in fact no solutions. While urgent priority needs to be given to establishing macroeconomic stability, another crisis consequential for Pakistan’s future also warrants the Sharif government’s attention. This is the crisis in human development — with most indicators of literacy, education, health, poverty and other aspects of social justice and human welfare deteriorating in recent years. The World Bank calls it a “silent, deep human capital crisis”, with Pakistan falling significantly in the global human development rankings. The education emergency is reflected in the grim reality that Pakistan has the world’s second highest number of children — over 20 million — out of school. With 40 per cent of people illiterate, literacy levels are stagnant. Poverty has risen in recent years with an estimated 12.5m more people pushed into poverty in 2023 as compared to the previous year. The overall state of human development is so bleak that it suggests Pakistan may be sleepwalking to a disaster that can only be ignored at great peril to the country’s stability and economic progress. Admittedly, these challenges have to be addressed in a fraught political environment in which constraints on the government’s power will weigh heavily on its ability to implement major policy actions. For that reason, the government should try to find ways to defuse political tensions and forge a political consensus on key measures. This won’t be easy. The government’s coalition partners will want to distance themselves from tough economic measures. Dissuading PTI leaders from their combative path will be equally difficult. But then, this is the test of leadership that awaits Shehbaz Sharif. The writer is a former ambassador to the US, UK and UN.

Blome optimistic about new govt's IMF ability

US Ambassador to Pakistan Donald Blome has expressed confidence in the incoming government's ability to pull off the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme but cautioned that economic stability hinged on the economic policies over the next few months. While speaking to a gathering of select journalists at the US Consulate General in Karachi, he that collaborating with the new government would be a top priority. “And our belief is it will take a concerted effort to ensure it moves in the right direction. If Pakistan maintains a consistent commitment to economic reforms, those reforms will build certainty and confidence for investors and enable economic growth fuelled by sustainable, inclusive, and …. economic development,” the US diplomat said. “We are confident Pakistan can do this and break free from an over-reliance on unsustainable debt,” he added. “We want to see Pakistan succeed in attracting more trade and investment, especially US investment. The economic success of Pakistan and its people remains a top priority for us, and we will continue to partner with Pakistan through a wide range of avenues, including technical engagement, and development assistance, and continue to strengthen our trade and investment relationship,” he said. He said real and lasting stability depended on governments and citizens finding a way to work together to expand opportunity and unlock the enormous talents of its people. The US diplomat further noted that Pakistan was the largest export market and the US sees huge potential for increasing two-way trade and investment between our two countries, and it's been a major priority for me as ambassador. “More than 80 US companies operate in Pakistan right now, making the United States one of Pakistan's leading investors. And we saw about $250 million in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from the US alone in FY22.” “US companies offer Pakistanis high-paying, 21st-century jobs, training, skill development, and labour protections, and many of these companies also give back generously to their local communities through a variety of corporate social responsibility programmes in which many – US companies are pioneers. And over the years, our top companies have invested hundreds of millions of dollars here and employ hundreds of thousands of Pakistanis in great jobs.” “And we want to see more US investment flow into Pakistan. We all know the upsides, as I've just mentioned – cutting-edge technology, high-skills training, employment of Pakistanis in leading-edge type of jobs,” he added. “Pakistan has made good progress confronting serious economic challenges during the past six months by successfully implementing the current IMF programme. It remains vulnerable to shocks such as Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine, devastating floods, and trade disruptions such as current events in the Red Sea, but continued progress on key reforms can help buoy the economy,” he said. He said governments cannot grow the economy by themselves to prosper in the 21st century, stating, “You must grow from the bottom up, allowing people to unlock their talents through private enterprise, economic freedom, and action.” “So, to anyone who might doubt the durability of the US-Pakistan relationship, I would – I generally point to the long-term investments that we've been making since the start of our relationship, investments in the Pakistani people and their future,” he said. Blome stressed that Pakistan has to find ways to look where it can be competitive in US markets and there are many possibilities that traditionally of course have been focused on textile and a few other sectors, “but you know the US economy and the level of US imports is enormous and there's a huge room for growth in trade relationship”. “We will continue to look for ways to help ensure Pakistan, the Pakistani companies have opportunities.” He said firms will look for opportunities to invest in Pakistan as they have in the past. There's an enormous mutual benefit to be had and expanding this, important trade in economic relationship remains between both countries, which is tested over time. Speaking about volatility and the shift of the local businesses, he said there are a number of issues and concerns to international investors including volatility or inconsistency and policies where they are looking. However, it hasn't meant that there's been a large exodus of existing investors. He said he saw cases of investment deferred rather than cancelled because of some watchfulness of government’s policy. He said during the last two years, the pattern of strong capital shifts investment flows that have been moving from place to place particularly trying to respond to supply chain disruptions or potential supply chain disruptions and things like that as companies are going to diversify suppliers. He said any Pakistani government should be looking at carefully in terms of prioritising. He expressed Pakistan's desire to draw external Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and highlighted the need for a proactive approach in competing with other nations to attract such investments into the country. Blome noted that any Pakistani government today faces a challenging environment with a very difficult debt situation, adding that one of the necessary tasks for any government is to find ways to raise the revenues required to meet its payment obligations. He highlighted that fiscal reforms on energy allow it to get its budget back in balance and reduce reliance on external borrowing which is becoming more difficult to get so all of those things will create a healthier Pakistani environment in general, particularly the economic environment. “We've revived some of our high-level economic dialogues including a ministerial level. We're looking for ways to unlock some of those issues in our two-way trade and of course, have a robust assistance programme for Pakistan in terms of economic growth." "At the end of the day, I think. We see it as a strong national interest of the US for Pakistan to be stable and prosperous." "We want to help Pakistan succeed in this challenging time and I think we're committed to finding ways. More areas can be expanded. We put a renewed emphasis on nutrition and maternal health, which obviously became a more acute crisis in the wake of the floods in 2022. So there's a lot of areas where we are re-evaluating and refocusing I think it's still a process.” he said. He mentioned that the IMF functions based on policy guidelines established by its board, which includes the US and various other countries. Despite some misconceptions about behind-the-scenes manipulation, it operates with a professional staff, he clarified. Regarding the Green Alliance Initiative, US Ambassador Donald Blome stated that through the USA and technical assistance, they are exploring ways to catalyze and expedite the energy transition in collaboration with Pakistan. “Look at what the bilateral mutual interests are between our two countries to put the relationship on a sustainable path that addresses what our future-looking priorities are for both countries. This area of what we've come to call the Green Alliance framework covers a lot of those things that we see as priorities in our going-to-be priorities for Pakistan. So that includes energy transition to renewable which will be hugely beneficial for Pakistan while reducing its reliance on expensive fuel,” he said.

The Sindh government, in partnership with the United States, celebrated the successful completion of the Sindh Basic Education Programme (SBEP) at a ceremony held at Governemnt School Damba Village, Karachi. The US Agency for International Development (USAID) invested $159.2 million to build 106 schools and strengthen the education sector in Sindh. The Ambassador of the United States Donald Blome, former minister for Sindh Education and Literacy Department Syed Sardar Ali Shah and Sindh Secretary School Education and Literacy Department Dr. Shereen Mustafa attended the ceremony. "We firmly believe that it is one of the best investments we can make in any country," the ambassador said. "Let's continue to expand access to education, prioritise learning, so that all children can get quality education." Read USAID grants Pakistan $445.6m over 5 years SBEP was developed in response to the devastating floods, which destroyed the school infrastructure in Sindh. Now, over 80,000 students from disadvantaged communities have access to top-tier education in modern, climate-resilient schools - equipping an entire generation with the skills and knowledge essential for 21st-century success. These new schools will serve as safe havens for neighboring communities as well as platforms for parent and community engagement. In addition to building schools, the programme strengthened communities and introduced innovative school management models, paving the way for successful public-private partnerships that are now replicated in other provinces.

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم Remarks by U.S. Ambassador Blome at the Closing Ceremony of U.S.-Funded Sindh Basic Education Program Government High School Damba Village Karachi AMBASSADOR BLOME: On behalf of the government and people of the United States of America, I am delighted to join you today at Government High School Damba Village as we celebrate ten years of partnership through the Sindh Basic Education Program.  Ten years ago, the United States government, through USAID, invested $159 million in a suite of programs with the goal of transforming basic education in Sindh and today, I’m proud to say we’ve achieved that goal. Together, we built 106 schools, increased access to education for tens of thousands of out-of-school children, especially girls. The 106 schools provide quality education to more than 80,000 boys and girls. What I hear today these aren’t just new schools, they are bigger schools. They serve primary and secondary students, they eliminate the transition from primary to secondary school, when many students are most likely to drop out. They have modern facilities and we built these schools to last. Not only did the new, climate-resilient schools survive the 2022 floods, they became community safe havens. In addition to serving as classrooms, those new facilities serve as platforms for parent and community engagement – mobilizing parents to increase enrollment, raising awareness about the value of education, and holding school leaders accountable. We have also helped create a new model for school management, establishing groundbreaking public-private partnerships to manage schools. The model is so successful that the Government of Sindh is independently funding public-private partnerships in 210 schools and at teacher training institutes. And we have made learning a priority. Ten years ago, many assumed that if schools had books, the students must be reading them. That's not always true. Through research, teacher training, and material development, we helped to get more kids reading. Today, as a result of the Sindh Basic Education Program, 80,000 students from disadvantaged communities in ten districts are getting a high-quality education to help them reach their full potential. So, to the students, here today, – stay in school, study hard, pursue your dreams, and give back to your communities. To the teachers – thank you for your work every day to help students learn and grow. To the parents and community – we share your hope for a better future for the children of Pakistan. To government and school leaders – thank you for your partnership, your leadership, and your dedication. Pakistan cannot achieve its development goals without high-quality education for all. To all who made these successes possible, thank you. I look forward to our continued partnership to expand education for all. Thank you.

United States Completes $159.2 Million Sindh Basic Education Program with 106 Climate-Resilient Schools Built Karachi, March 1, 2024 – Today, the United States, in partnership with the Sindh Government, celebrated the successful completion of the Sindh Basic Education Program (SBEP) at a ceremony at High School Damba Village, Karachi. SBEP, funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), invested $159.2 million to build 106 schools and strengthen the education sector throughout Sindh. U.S. Ambassador Donald Blome, former Minister for Sindh Education and Literacy Department Syed Sardar Ali Shah and Sindh Secretary School Education and Literacy Department Dr. Shereen Mustafa attended the closing ceremony highlighting the successes of the multi-faceted program. “High quality basic education positions every child for success, and we firmly believe that it is one of the best investments we can make in any country,” Ambassador Blome said. “Let’s continue to expand access to education, prioritize learning, and scale these reforms across Sindh and all of Pakistan so that all children can thrive.” SBEP was developed in response to the devastating floods of 2010-11, which destroyed the school infrastructure in Sindh.  Now, over 80,000 students from disadvantaged communities have access to top-tier education in modern, climate-resilient schools – equipping an entire generation with the skills and knowledge essential for 21st-century success. These new schools not only survived the catastrophic 2022 floods, but also served as safe havens for neighboring communities and as platforms for parent and community engagement. In addition to building schools, the program strengthened communities and introduced innovative school management models, paving the way for successful public-private partnerships that are now replicated in other provinces.

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم US Economic Assistance to Pakistan Dr. Jassim Taqui DG, Al-Bab Institute for Strategic Studies Islamabad, 1st March, 2024 The United States began providing economic assistance along and military aid to Pakistan shortly after the country’s creation in 1947. In total, the United States obligated nearly $67 billion (in constant 2011 dollars) to Pakistan between 1951 and 2011. The levels year to year have waxed and waned for decades as US geopolitical interests in the region have shifted. Peaks in aid have followed years of neglect. In several periods, including as recently as the 1990s, US halted aid entirely and shut the doors of the USAID offices. This pattern has rendered the United States a far cry from a reliable and unwavering partner to Pakistan over the years. For the years 2002–2011 I have added data on Coalition Support Funds spending to the military assistance category; while CSF is not technically foreign assistance, it has constituted the bulk of military assistance to Pakistan during the post-9/11 period. Source for CSF amounts is "Direct Overt U.S. Aid Appropriations and Military Reimbursements to Pakistan. In 2009, in an attempt to signal the United States’ renewed commitment to Pakistan, the US Congress approved the Enhanced Partnership for Pakistan Act (commonly known as the Kerry-Lugar-Berman bill, or KLB). KLB’s intention was to put security and development on two separate tracks, insulating the development agenda from unpredictable geopolitical and military events and facilitating longer-term planning for development. The act authorized a tripling of US economic and development-related assistance to Pakistan, or $7.5 billion over five years (FY2010 to FY2014), to improve Pakistan’s governance, support its economic growth, and invest in its people. Even with strong authorizing language, however, it is up to the administration to request the funds and up to the Congressional appropriations committees to approve those requests. In only one of the first four years of KLB’s five-year authorization did the final appropriation for US economic-related aid to Pakistan meet or exceed the average annual authorization of $1.5 billion. Between FY2002 and FY2009, only 30 percent of US foreign assistance to Pakistan was appropriated for economic-related needs; the remaining 70 percent was allocated to security-related assistance. In the period since the KLB authorization (FY2010 through the FY2014 budget request), 41 percent of assistance has been allocated for economic-related assistance —still not a majority of total assistance, but the increase over the preceding period does demonstrate the renewed commitment to Pakistan’s development embodied by the legislation. Economic-Related Assistance includes Child Survival and Health, Development Assistance, Economic Support Fund, Food Aid, Human Rights and Democracy Funds, International Disaster Assistance, and Migration and Refugee Assistance. Security-Related Assistance includes Section 1206 of the National Defense Authorization Act, Counternarcotic, Foreign Military Financing, International Military Education and Training, International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement, Nonproliferation Anti-Terrorism Demining and Related, and Pakistan Counterinsurgency Funds and Counterinsurgency Capability Funds. This shows how funds designated for economic-assistance to Pakistan ($766 million requested in FY2014) have been allocated across sectors. In the absence of necessary systemic reforms and the disruption to programmed assistance inflicted by natural disasters such as the 2010 floods have all contributed to difficulty in spending money. According to figures in the most recent CRS report, between FY2010 and FY2012 approximately $2.2 billion of $4 billion appropriated for economic-related assistance was disbursed (including security-related assistance, just over $3 billion was disbursed in this time period). In this same time period (FY2010–2012), nearly $1.9 billion was spent in Pakistan. As of March 31, 2013, nearly $4 billion in civilian assistance funds for FY2010 through FY2013 had been obligated, and just over $3.5 billion had been spent. In the development-related assistance, $2.6 billion in development-related assistance has been obligated and $2.3 billion spent. How Do Assistance Levels to Pakistan Compare to Assistance to Other Initiatives and Countries? Despite this decline, the amount of US aid pledged to Pakistan remains significant compared to funding for other development initiatives. The administration’s $1.16 billion request for foreign assistance to Pakistan exceeds requests for the Global Hunger and Food Security initiative ($1.06 billion), the Millennium Challenge Corporation ($0.90 billion), and the Global Climate Change initiative ($0.48 billion). It is also not far behind the requested $1.36 billion for the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA), which makes loans and grants to the world’s 81 poorest countries and is the single largest source of development finance in these locations. As for bilateral assistance, according to the most recent data from USAID’s US Overseas Loans and Grants database (FY2011), Pakistan is the fourth largest recipient of US assistance, trailing Israel, Afghanistan, and Egypt. As a point of comparison, the United States has pledged seven times more aid to Pakistan than to Bangladesh, a neighboring country with a comparable population size and similar development needs. It’s Not All About the US: Other Donors’ Contributions to Pakistan Of course, the United States is just one of many countries and institutions that provide financial assistance to Pakistan including ODA Total gross disbursements amounted to $4.15 billion (constant 2011 $). The United States was the largest contributor, constituting nearly a third of total ODA to Pakistan, and is followed by the World Bank’s International Development Association (21 percent of total ODA), Japan (14 percent), the United Kingdom (8 percent), and the EU Institutions (4 percent). As for the multilateral institutions, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is Pakistan’s biggest multilateral partner, providing assistance of $4.4 billion from 2009 through 2012. Under its 2009-2013 Pakistan Country Strategy the ADB increased support for the energy, transport and irrigation infrastructure, and urban services sectors, providing annual average lending of almost $1.5 billion. The World Bank’s portfolio in Pakistan currently consists of 30 projects with a total commitment of $5 billion. The Bank is heavily invested in the education sector (in Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan) and infrastructure (transport, sanitation, water management, and energy). The IMF disbursed credit worth $5.2 billion to Pakistan from FY2008 to FY2010 following the 2008 economic crises. In 2011 the Government of Pakistan decided to end the IMF program, but following the country’s civilian election in May 2013 the new government, led by the Pakistani Muslim League (Nawaz), has entered into a new provisional agreement with the Fund worth $6.6 billion for a bailout package for FY2013-2016. Although the IMF and Pakistan have an ‘unhappy history’, the new government is said to have little choice due to its balance of payments crisis and sharply declining foreign exchange reserves.