US temporarily suspends aid to Pakistan

WASHINGTON: US officials have confirmed that aid to Pakistan, like several other countries, has been temporarily suspended due to which several key development projects in the country have been stalled

Recently, the US State Department directed all diplomatic and consular missions to immediately suspend foreign aid programs. The suspension, initially set for 90 days, also affects assistance to Ukraine, Taiwan, Jordan, and other nations.

According to US officials, all aid programs to Pakistan have been halted pending a comprehensive review. The decision has disrupted multiple sectors in the country.

The suspension includes the Ambassador Fund for Cultural Preservation, while five major projects in the energy sector have also been shut down.

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Economic growth initiatives in Pakistan are among the affected areas, with four programs halted. Additionally, five development projects in the agriculture sector have lost funding.

Funds supporting democracy, human rights, and governance have also been temporarily stopped. Four educational and four health-related projects are now on hold. Furthermore, 11 governance-related initiatives have been impacted by the US decision.

US officials clarified that the suspension is temporary, and the future of these aid programs will be determined after a thorough review.

Hours after taking office, Trump ordered a 90-day pause in foreign aid to review if it was aligned with his foreign policy priorities. On Friday, the State Department issued a stop-work order worldwide even for existing and appropriated assistance, calling into question billions of dollars of life-saving aid.

The United States is the largest single donor of aid globally. In fiscal year 2023, it disbursed $72 billion in assistance. It provided 42 per cent of all humanitarian aid tracked by the United Nations in 2024.