EU to extend 13 mn euro to Pakistan

An agreement has been finalised for the EU to provide 13 million euro in funding for a programme intended to support Pakistan's four provincial assemblies, the European Union mission in Islamabad said Monday.

The funding will also cover the legislative assemblies of northern areas of Gilgit-Baltistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, Xinhua reported.

The programme will also support Pakistan's primary human rights institutions and oversight institutions, a EU statement said.

"The successful elections in May this year clearly showed the commitment of the people of Pakistan to the democratic process," said Lars-Gunnar Wigemark, head of the delegation of the European Union to Pakistan.

"In order to sustain democracy you need robust democratic institutions and I believe this program can make an important contribution," he added.

The programme has been developed jointly by the European Union and the Pakistan government.

The EU said the programme would support the government and parliamentary agencies in building "responsive and modern democratic institutions", both at the federal and provincial level.

Focus will be on issues like election standards, budget and fiscal oversight, assembly proceedings and effective use of parliamentary oversight tools, including awareness of government rules of business, legislative and research support.

The programme will run for four years with the overall objective of strengthening the democratic experience and rights of the Pakistani people as a whole, especially the most vulnerable, including children, religious minorities and women.