M A I N   N E W S

Germany resumes aid to Pakistan

Islamabad, October 28
Pakistani Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz said today that Germany had resumed economic aid with a grant of 50 million marks ($ 22.83 million) for this financial year.

“We have just signed an aide memoir for revival of economic aid to Pakistan from Germany and for this financial year Germany has offered us DM 50 million and we hope that this amount will increase as the years go by,” Mr Aziz said. Reuters

USA may give Pak more aid

Washington, October 28
President George W. Bush is considering additional financial aid to Pakistan in an effort to bolster a key ally in the US-led war on terrorism, an administration official has said.

The aid will be on top of the $100 million already promised, the official said, refusing to give further details.

“We are considering additional assistance and we’re working closely with the Congress on what other measures could be appropriate,” the official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said yesterday.

Mr Bush demanded Pakistan support his war on terrorism and pressure Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers.

Promises of US aid were key to getting Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf to abandon his one-time Taliban allies and cast his nation’s lot with Washington. AFP