Pakistan Election Body Rejects US Aid

Islamabad, Sept 11, IRNA – Pakistan’s election body has rejected American aid for election process and decided to to meet all expenditures through national resources, a media report said Monday. An amount of US$350 million was allocated for the electoral process in Pakistan under a US aid package and was reserved for the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). The ECP was advised to spend the amount on the preparation of new computerized voters’ lists. However, the leadership of ECP has decided to reject the offer and will meet the electoral expenses through national resources, daily Jang reported. Pakistani media hailed the decision that will ensure the country’s sovereignty and will be a step to end dependence on American aid. About one billion rupees have been spent on the preparation of computerized voters’ lists and most of the funds will be transferred to the country’s registration authority, which has played a key role in the process./end