Australia strengthens development cooperation with Pakistan

Media release

Perth

28 October 2011

Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd and Pakistani Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hina Rabbani Khar, today strengthened cooperation between the two countries with the signing of the Australia-Pakistan Development Partnership.

Mr Rudd said the four year Partnership lays the foundations for future engagement between Australia and Pakistan on aid and development.

The Partnership commits both countries to accountability and mutual responsibility for development results, including through joint reviews of progress against the Partnership’s commitment to accelerate progress towards the Millennium Development goals. It will underpin activities in the health, education, and agriculture and rural development sectors.

An annual dialogue has been established between senior officials from Australia and Pakistan to review progress against jointly agreed development commitments.

“Continued support for Pakistan is important given the scale of its development challenges and its pivotal place in the security of the region,” Mr Rudd said.

“Australia is committed to working with the Government of Pakistan to address key development challenges affecting its stability, as well as to support its recovery from devastating floods in 2010 and 2011.

“Australian aid to Pakistan is achieving results and has had a real impact on the lives of communities.

“Australia’s support is helping around 28,000 children return to school following the 2010 floods and has provided seeds and fertilisers to more than 30,000 farmers to restore crops and livelihoods in flood-affected areas.

“Australia has also invested in research projects that have improved farming techniques and increased farmers’ incomes in the mango, dairy and citrus sectors, and has recently awarded 50 development scholarships for Pakistani nationals to study in Australia in 2012.

“The Partnership reflects Australia's strong interest in a stable, democratic and prosperous Pakistan and the vital role it plays in the region,” Mr Rudd said.

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