§ Sir John Biggs-Davisonasked the Lord Privy Seal what aid is being given to Pakistan, through the European Community or otherwise; and what proportion of such aid is being devoted to Baluchistan.
§ Mr. Neil MartenSo far as our bilateral aid to Pakistan—including Baluchistan—and to Afghan refugees in Pakistan is concerned, I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 10 April.—[Vol. 2, c.365.] Since that reply, the grant for purchase of goods from Britain, to benefit Baluchistan in particular, has been increased to £5 million and the amount provided for Afghan refugees increased from £1.12 million to £1.6 million.
The United Kingdom is also contributing its share of European Community aid to Pakistan—including Baluchistan. Of the 5.5 million ecu—about £3 million—committed under the budget for 1980, 4 million ecu were for water supplies programmes in Baluchistan. For 1981 a larger allocation is expected, including an emergency drinking water programme for the refugee areas in North West Frontier Province. No new projects for Baluchistan have yet been proposed. In 1980 and 1981 25 million ecu—about £13.5 million—were provided as emergency aid for the Afghan refugees themselves. The Community has also contributed substantial quantities of food aid for Pakistan and for Afghan refugees. In 1980 and 1981 Pakistan itself was allocated a total of 85,000 tonnes of cereals, plus some dairy products, and the Afghan refugees 27,000 tonnes of cereals through the United Nations Commissioner for Refugees and 5,000 tonnes of cereals through the World Food Programme.