'US stood by Pakistan in every difficult period'.

ISLAMABAD -- Whether it was the devastating earthquake in 2005 or the 2010 floods, the United States government has stood with the government and people of Pakistan in every difficult moment.

The delicate journey of friendly relations between the two countries that started 75 years ago has become stronger as support is provided to the Pakistani nation in different sectors including infrastructure and development.

This was pointed out by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Director Philippe Accilien as he spoke at a roundtable conference organised to celebrate the 75th anniversary of partnership between Pakistan and the US. USAID has been assisting the government of Pakistan for the last 61 years, building infrastructure needed to improve the economy and increasing community resilience besides expanding education and health services.

In cooperation with federal and provincial governments, the agency works towards providing a quality life to people living in cities as water, sanitation and waste management have been major issues in them.

Jalilur Rehman, another USAID official, said, 'The US contributed more than $300 million after the earthquake, due to which 60 schools were constructed in Bagh and Mansehra where student enrollment was more than 30,000.'

He said the USAID has initiated a strong infrastructure programme in tribal districts, under which more than 600 kilometre long roads and 35 bridges in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan (including two tunnels), been constructed and three trade routes between Pakistan and Afghanistan were developed. Some projects are still in progress and are expected to be completed in a couple of years, Mr Rehman added.

Shahid Mahmood spoke about the essential infrastructural programmes that the agency started in the education sector. These include construction of Centre for Advanced Study in Agriculture and Food security at University of Agriculture (Faisalabad), Centre for Advanced Study in Water at Mehran University of Engineering and Technology (Jamshoro) and Centres For Advanced Study in Energy at National University of Sciences and Technology (Nust) and UET Peshawar, in partnership with the Arizona State University.

The...