From June 6-9, Deputy Administrator Isobel Coleman traveled to Pakistan to underscore the United States' relationship and partnership with Pakistan and highlight U.S. efforts to support Pakistan's flood relief and recovery efforts.
The Deputy Administrator began her trip with a visit to a flood-affected district of Sindh province to observe USAID-funded nutrition efforts. In Sindh, Deputy Administrator Coleman announced $16.4 million in USAID funding that will benefit more than 20 million Pakistanis in communities most affected by the 2022 floods, providing food security, maternal and child health and nutrition, as well as water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) assistance. She also visited Kausar Hospital to deliver USAID-funded, ready-to-use therapeutic food that will treat thousands of malnourished children. Additionally, Deputy Administrator Coleman presented health workers with 2,500 equipment kits containing essential items that were lost in the floods, such as thermometers, scales, and blood pressure monitors.
In Islamabad, Deputy Administrator Coleman met with Minister of Economic Affairs Sardar Ayaz Sadiq to highlight the shared achievements of the U.S.-Pakistan development partnership since 1948 and discuss the future of the relationship in light of pressing new development challenges, particularly climate-fueled disasters like the 2022 floods. The two leaders launched a new five-year bilateral assistance agreement to underscore the American people's continued commitment to supporting the people of Pakistan on issues that are important to both nations, including climate, energy, sustainable economic growth, inclusive democratic governance, education, and health.
The Deputy Administrator also opened the 2023 U.S.-Pakistan Health Dialogue. At the Dialogue, she met with Pakistan's Federal Minister of National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination Abdul Qadir Patel. The two leaders reaffirmed the longstanding health partnership between the U.S. and Pakistan and discussed how to further strengthen that partnership. They spoke about the importance of increasing engagement in critical sectors, including nutrition, infectious diseases, global health security and quality health service provision following the 2022 floods. Deputy Administrator Coleman also attended a high-level dinner hosted by Minister Patel to mark a successful conclusion of the second annual Health Dialogue.
Deputy Administrator Coleman met with the Climate Minister Sherry Rehman for a follow-on discussion on matters arising from the International Conference on Climate Resilient Pakistan held in Geneva earlier this year. They shared reflections on recovery efforts in flood-affected areas in Sindh and discussed USAID/Pakistan's Climate Action plan. Both governments agreed to explore collaboration to develop the carbon credit market, reduce methane emissions, and identify opportunities with the Development Finance Corporation.
Deputy Administrator Coleman also met with a range of leaders from the Pakistani business community, tech sector, and civil society. She hosted a lunch with female entrepreneurs to celebrate the successes of Pakistani business women and hear directly from them about the challenges these business leaders face, and opportunities to partner with USAID to develop the enabling environment for women's entrepreneurship in Pakistan.
She met with private sector investors to hear about efforts to develop more renewable energy sources in Pakistan, as well as a group of business leaders to discuss the malnutrition crisis. At a malnutrition roundtable, part of an interagency effort to mobilize resources from the private sector and the U.S.- Pakistani diaspora to combat malnutrition, the U.S. government and private sector leaders pledged to work together to address the issue.
Deputy Administrator Coleman also convened representatives from Pakistan's top private digital technology companies. They discussed the role of technology in addressing social, economic, and humanitarian development challenges in Pakistan, including low internet connectivity, poor digital literacy, and significant bandwidth constraints due to the surging demand for digital services. They explored potential areas for partnership with USAID, including ways to enhance the responsible use of digital technology and strengthen the openness, inclusiveness, and security of Pakistan's digital ecosystems.
Additionally, at an event at the American Embassy hosted by U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Donald Blome, Deputy Administrator Coleman had an opportunity to meet with leaders from the World Bank, UN agencies, Pakistani think tanks, and other diplomatic missions to discuss the current socioeconomic and development situation in Pakistan.
At the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, the Deputy Administrator held a town hall and thanked USAID staff for their commitment to the United States' work to foster a more stable, peaceful, and prosperous Pakistan. The Deputy Administrator also met with USAID's foreign service nationals to convey her appreciation for their work and engage in an open dialogue.
