AUSTRALIAN HIGH COMMISSION
ISLAMABAD
 

10 May 2012

PRESS RELEASE

Australia’s assistance to Pakistan to increase to nearly A$100 million

In 2012-13, the Australian Government will provide an estimated A$96.4 million (PKR 8.83 billion) in official development assistance to Pakistan, an increase of A$3.6 million (PKR 330 million) on 2011-12 levels.

“Australia remains committed to working with Pakistan’s to address its development challenges, as demonstrated by this substantial allocation, which will make it Australia’s ninth largest country program,” said Australian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Mr Tim George.

This is part of the Government’s overall commitment to increase the size of the Australian aid program to A$5.2 billion (PKR 476 billion) from A$4.8 billion (PKR 440 billion) in 2011-12. This increase will maintain Australia’s Official Development Assistance at 0.35 per cent of its Gross National Income.

Australia is committed to increasing its ODA to 0.5% of GNI by 2016-17, at a time when much of the world continues to face economic uncertainty.

Managed by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), Australia’s aid program in Pakistan is guided by the Australia-Pakistan Development Partnership, which underlines the commitment of both countries to a long term development relationship, and to mutual responsibilities in this engagement.

Recent inaugural Partnership talks agreed the priority focus areas for Australia’s aid program in Pakistan. These include: improving maternal and child health by assisting access to skilled birth attendants and providing nutrition support; giving more children access to a quality education; and increasing agricultural production to improve incomes in rural communities. Australia also aims to support effective governance and provide post-disaster assistance and support for disaster risk reduction activities across Pakistan.

Australian assistance to Pakistan in 2012-13 will contribute to a stable, secure and democratic country through broad-based social and economic development and poverty reduction in line with the Millennium Development Goals.

An increase in health funding will assist Pakistan to strengthen its national and provincial health systems to provide greater access to quality maternal and child health services, saving the lives of women and children.

Education will continue to be a flagship sector of the Australian aid program in Pakistan. In 2012-13, Australian support will continue to increase access to quality education for Pakistani girls and boys.

Consistent with commitments made, the Government also released a new Comprehensive Aid Policy Framework on 8 May 2012. The Framework articulates a four-year vision for Australian aid that sets out how much Australia will deliver, where and why by 2015-16.

This will enable the Australian Government to work together with Pakistan to better plan and implement aid investments more effectively over the next four years, delivering better results for the people of Pakistan.
 

Contact: Melissa Kelly (051 8355346)