U.S aid is infact a foreign aid
to Pakistan so as far as the definition and origin of foreign aid is concerned
,foreign aid refers to the international transfer of capital, goods, or services
in the form of grants or loans; sometimes referred to as voluntary transfer
either from one government to another(bilateral assistance) or through a
multilateral assistance agency like the World Bank for the benefit of the
recipient country or its population. Foreign aid was conceived as a product of
the Post World War two era. Its roots are in the Marshall plan, under which the
United States gave funds to help rebuild Europe after the war. Encouraged by its
role in rebuilding Europe, the United States took the lead in trying to help the
emerging nations by providing capital in the form of foreign aid especially to
the countries that had development plans for investing the aid they received and
to those in which United States had political concerns just like Pakistan.
Moreover the United States was amongst the first nations to have established
relations with Pakistan in late 1940`s and since then relations have been
centered around the United States` extensive economic, scientific and military
assistance to Pakistan due to political concerns of United States in Pakistan
and surrounding countries.
Since Pakistan is a developing country and according to United Nations estimate,
about 17.2% of the total population is living below the poverty line. So in this
condition our all governments compromised to help United States in achieving
their political concerns in return of U.S aid. Also this aid bore fruits in
stabilizing the economy as the primary as the primary function or focus of the
U.S civilian assistance aid program is to develop a stable , secure and tolerant
Pakistan with a vibrant economy. U.S aid has focused its program over the last
year on five areas essential to Pakistan`s stability and long term development
and reflective of Pakistani priorities: energy, economy, stabilization,
education and health. Moreover as a result of destruction caused by natural
disasters like floods and earthquakes, U.S aid has assisted our government in
rehabilitation process. Also due to less literacy rate and lack of development
in fields of science and technology, there is no indigenization in our country,
so we are totally dependent on U.S aid for parts of important machinery and
their repair etc.
On the other hand, there is no credible evidence that U.S aid has speeded up
growth or condensed shortage. According to professor Deaton, a specialist on
global poverty and foreign aid is of the view that,
“Foreign aid does more damage than good.
It corrupts governments and hardly ever
reaches the poor and needy people.”
Moreover despite receiving enormous amounts of aid, Pakistan has been
unsuccessful to reach the stage of self sustaining economic growth. The truth is
that U.S lend aid to meet its organized economic and political interests. It
also effectively discourages governments from learning and correcting their
mistakes because its like giving an alcoholic the key to a brewery. Hence U.S
aid and other donors have encouraged third world governments like Pakistan to
rely on handouts instead of on themselves for development.
So countries like Pakistan must refuse U.S aid and first address their security
issues to welcome traders and investors in their country as our country needs
massive investment to improve its infrastructure, power shortfall, provide
education and health facilities, reduce poverty and create jobs for millions of
people. So its trade not aid, solution for all problems.