Probe into Kerry-Lugar funds’ embezzlement by NGOs in Pakistan
November 26th, 2010 - 1:06 am ICT by IANS
By Awais Saleem
Islamabad, Nov 25 (IANS) Pakistan’s National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has decided to investigate reports of alleged corruption in the funds being disbursed to NGOs for development projects under the Kerry-Lugar bill.
A two-member delegation of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) met NAB chairman Justice (retd.) Deedar Hussain Shah Thursday and “requested him to look into the matter to ensure transparency in the development schemes aimed for the betterment of Pakistan people”.
The US government has already lodged formal complaints with NAB regarding financial embezzlement in local NGOs and the association of some US nationals with them. Justice Shah assured the US officials that “complaints will be thoroughly investigated and accused will be brought to book”.
The Kerry-Lugar-Burman bill, signed by US President Barack Obama in October 2009, envisions providing non-military financial assistance worth $7.5 billion to Pakistan in five years. Much of this aid was to disburse through American NGOs for development projects at mass level in Pakistan.
There have been reports that some local NGOs have used US citizens as front men while some others have pooled with the non-governmental organizations in US to squeeze funding. This is against the spirit of the funding agreement and prompted the US authorities to lodge complaints for a formal probe.
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- New US programme seeks to execute half of Kerry-Lugar aid to Pak by 2012 - Oct 28, 2010
- Kerry announces $200 mn aid for flood-hit Pakistan - Aug 19, 2010
- US says Kerry-Lugar Bill will be approved by September - Aug 29, 2009
- US to stick with 'Transparency' aid monitoring mechanism despite Pak govt's objections - Oct 30, 2010
- US mission to visit Pak to identify areas of fund utilization - Sep 26, 2009
- Pak to receive $850 million of Kerry-Lugar aid by year end - Dec 19, 2009
- Kerry calls for tight check on Pak non-military aid fearing rampant govt corruption - May 28, 2010
- State Department seeking 3.2 billion dollars for Pakistan for 2011 : Clinton - Feb 25, 2010
- Pakistan may seek $874 mn from IMF - Oct 15, 2009
- Pak has not received 'a single penny' under Kerry Lugar bill so far: Qureshi - Jan 30, 2010
- Raphel appointed coordinator for non-military assistance to Pakistan - Aug 03, 2009
- Davis case should not mar Pakistan-US ties: Kerry - Feb 16, 2011
Tags: alleged corruption, awais, barack obama, betterment, burman, deedar, development projects, embezzlement, financial assistance, formal complaints, front men, governmental organizations, hussain shah, islamabad, mass level, member delegation, nab, national accountability bureau, ngos in pakistan, saleem