US renews support for Bhasha Dam,renewable energy projects

ISLAMABAD: The United States on Monday renewed its support for the Diamer Bhasha Dam and commitment for investment in renewable energy projects in Pakistan.
The commitment was renewed when the Acting Assistant to USAID Administrator of Afghanistan and Pakistan, Larry Sampler, met Finance Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar here on Monday along with senior USAID and US Embassy officials.
Larry Sampler referred to his participation in the recently held economic cooperation conference in Afghanistan and said the participants acknowledged the substantial contribution made by Pakistan at the event.
The minister, while appreciating US$250 million assistance for temporarily displaced persons (TDPs), reiterated that disbursement of funds/financing of projects would be carried out in consultation with the government. He said an estimated 1.9 billion dollars were required for the ongoing Operation Zarb-e-Azb, beefing up security and meeting expenses on return/rehabilitation of TDPs.
Larry Sampler said the US government and people looked forward to the visit of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to the United States. Both sides hoped that important matters relating to bilateral economic cooperation would be discussed during the visit, further strengthening the overall Pak-US relations.
Larry Sampler also on this occasion renewed support for the Diamer Bhasha Dam project and highlighted the commitment for investment in renewable energy projects.
He said the US would continue to support Pakistan government’s initiative for improving governance in the power sector and would support small hydro and solar power projects. The USAID, he said, plans to hold a business opportunities conference to highlight the potential and opportunities in Pakistan in the renewable energy sector.
He assured the finance minister of his country’s continued assistance in improving the financial markets in Pakistan.
Senator Dar said Pakistan greatly valued USAID’s assistance to Pakistan in various fields. He said the Government of Pakistan was looking forward to the meeting of the Pak-US Economic Working Group later this year. He also shared with the visiting dignitary the energy sector reforms undertaken by the government, which he said are aimed at resolving the problem of energy shortages in the country. Senior officials of the finance and economic affairs divisions attended the meeting.