Pakistani province cancels six U.S. aid agreements

The Pakistani province of Punjab will stop accepting U.S. aid and has canceled six agreements with the U.S. pertaining to health, education and solid waste management, according to Shahbaz Sharif, chief minister of the province, Inter Press Service reports. "Sharif has vowed to 'break the begging bowl' which he said undermines Pakistan's sovereignty," the news service writes (Ebrahim, 5/23).

As a result of the aid agreement cancelations, Andrew Sisson, USAID's director in Pakistan, said he is keeping an eye on the politics in the U.S. and Pakistan, VOA News reports in a story examining U.S. aid to Pakistan. "Yes, I am hoping our program won't be cut. Because we are all about partnership. And long-term development is based on trust and long-term investments, and reduction in that or a cut in that would undermine that longer term partnership we are trying to develop. I hope it doesn't happen," Sisson said (Ittner, 5/20).