Press Release: EU-Pakistan: Commission proposes increase in assistance

Commissioner for External Relations and Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, has presented to Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shaukat Aziz, the assistance package that the Commission is proposing for Pakistan for an amount of €200 million over the next four years. A major part of the €200 million will be spent on rural development in the North West Frontier Province and Baluchistan to strengthen natural resources management, develop community physical infrastructure and to improve livelihoods and employment opportunities, thus contributing towards enhancing Pakistan's economic and social cohesion. The second focal area will be education and human resources development to help advance access to education and better service delivery. Particular care will be taken for women and girls to benefit from these activities.