Embassy of the United States

press releases

U.S. Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker and Khalid Sayeed, Secretary of Economic Affairs Division, exchange signed copies of a $12 million Food for Progress Grant Agreement.

United States And Pakistan Sign $12 Million Food For Progress Grant Agreement

Islamabad – U.S. Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker and Khalid Sayeed, Secretary, Economic Affairs Division, signed an agreement under which the U.S. Government will provide 46,000 metric tons of wheat to the Government of Pakistan to replenish domestic wheat used to feed survivors of the October 8 earthquake.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is donating USD $12 million to procure and transport U.S. soft white wheat to the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock. The wheat will replace an equivalent amount made available by the ministry soon after the earthquake to feed over one million people from November 2005 through March 2006.

"The winter wheat will travel from Portland, Oregon to the Port of Karachi, where it will help the government of Pakistan replenish its food stocks diminished by the devastating earthquake. We are pleased to help our friend and long-time ally re-establish food supplies to pre-earthquake levels," said Ambassador Crocker.

The United States has pledged a total of $510 million in earthquake relief and reconstruction efforts to assist the people of Pakistan and to support Pakistani government relief and reconstruction efforts.