Aid continues —But No New U. S. Loan For Pakistan
WASHINGTON, May 21.-A State Department spokesman said yesterday that no new aid loan had been signed for Pakistan pending the submission of a revised development plan by the Pakistan Government and “fulfillment of others U. S. legislative criteria”, reports AP.
The Press Officer. Mr. Charles Bray, called “misleading” reports that the USA had suspended its economic assistance to Pakistan Aid loans, technical assistance agreements and Food for Peace programmes “are being implemented in Pakistan except where it has been disrupted by recent events in East Bengal.”
All but ten U.S. Aid personnel have been evacuated from East Bengal and U.S. programmes there, together with those of the World Bank, have come to a halt because of the civil war.
Mr. Bray did not cite the legislative guidelines which must be met under the revised development plan. There has been strong pressure in the U.S. Senate to halt all economic assistance to Pakistan until the war between the freedom fighters in East Bengal and the West Pakistan army has been resolved. Mr. Bray added that the World Bank and the International Monetary fund were also sending a mission to Pakistan to look into the question of additional aid.
Reference: Hindustan Standard 22.5.1971