Global Fund to provide $255m for improved health facilities

Secretary Economic Affairs Division and representatives of the Global Fund signed a framework agreement to improve health facilities in Pakistan on Wednesday. According to media, the Global Fund will provide assistance of 25 crores 50 lakh dollars to Pakistan within three months to improve its health facilities for diseases such as Tuberculosis ,Malaria and aids in the country.

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and Minister of State for National Health Services Saira Afzal Tarar were also present. Speaking on the occasion, the Finance Minister said the assistance by the Global Fund will help control different dis- eases in Pakistan added that the assistance will be utilized in transparent manner. He acknowledged that the Global Fund is known for helping many health problems in the world and they also agree to cooperate in the field of education. Saira Afzal Tarar thanked the Global Fund for the assistance. She said it is an important agreement, which will help bringing improvement in health sector and also suggested that the provinces should also spare special quota for health facilities in the provincial budget. The Representative of Global Fund in his thanking remarks said, the Fund is determined to cooperate with Pakistan. He said with this agreement, relations with Pakistan will be promoted. He appreciated that the government is paying special attention towards the health sector. Other representative has said that this is a remarkable agreement for health facilities and signing of this agreement would regularize the relationship between the global fund and Pakistan added that we are very happy over the progress in the health field in Pakistan and we are hopeful for further progress in this field. At last the Finance minister Ishaq Dar while appreciating global fund for this assistance said that this is a very welcoming step for those who are suffering from different diseases and global fund deserves appreciation for signing this agreement with Pakistan. Global Fund singed an agreement with Pakistan to provide financial assistance of US $255 million to fight diseases of AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB) and Malaria in the country.