HELSINKI: Finland has donated 3.0 million euros (4.0 million dollars) into a fund for the reconstruction and stabilisation of areas of Pakistan on the Afghanistan border, the foreign ministry said Friday.
“The stability of Pakistan and the stability of Afghanistan are closely linked and supporting border areas also promotes broader regional development,” it said in a statement.
The areas in western Pakistan targeted through the World Bank-managed fund have suffered from extended conflict and social instability and lag the rest of the country in terms of socio-economic development, it said.
“The situation in border areas is also critical because various rebel and terrorist groups use them as their education, maintenance and rest areas and as bases for attacks they make into Pakistan and Afghanistan,” the ministry said.
The funds would be used to improve the availability of education and health care services, to repair damaged infrastructure and improve the rights of women and girls, among other things, the ministry said.— AFP
Source Dawn News
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