ISLAMABAD, Feb 14: The United States and some other western countries have decided to provide ‘additional financial assistance’ to Pakistan to help it improve the security situation in Fata, says a senior US official.

"Pakistan government is finalising a new sustainable development programme for Fata for which the United States, Norwegian government and the Department for International Development (DFID) of the United Kingdom will be offering additional financial support to Pakistan for improving the security situation and bringing stability there," said the visiting Deputy Administration for United States Agency for International Development (USAID), James R Kunder, at a news conference here on Wednesday.

He said once the security situation was improved, there were greater opportunities to undertake increased developmental work in Fata, especially to support the activities related to health and education.

Responding to a question, he said that the US was seriously concerned about the security situation in Fata and Afghanistan.

"We believe we can find good partners to address the security concerns in both the countries (Pakistan and Afghanistan) as this is a pre-requisite to ensure peace and development in Fata," he said, adding that his government would carefully go through the draft of the proposed sustainable development programme being finalised by Islamabad.

Mr Kunder said the US was providing all possible financial and technical support to the Election Commission of Pakistan to ensure ‘transparent electorate process’.

"My government will be providing transparent election boxes to your election commission so that the concerns of Pakistan's opposition parties about the forthcoming election could be removed," he said.

He said although the US government did not plan to interfere in Pakistan's internal affairs, it would monitor the situation for which Japan would also be providing certain technical assistance.

USIAD Director in Pakistan Jonathon Addleton told a reporter that technical assistance was meant for preparing better ballot boxes to ensure fair and free elections in the country.

The United States Development Programme (UNDP) is in fact providing assistance for electoral reforms and the capacity building of the election commission for ensuring fair and free elections in Pakistan. This is part of the UNDP's good governance programme for the country.

To a question, he said that proper registration of voters and double entry system could ensure transparent electoral process in Pakistan.

"We can bring best international practices to support Pakistan's legislation and for making laws," he said.

He said core development programmes in Fata and other places would be fully supported by the US, and assistance for earthquake-hit areas would be continued. He said the US had already offered $500 million assistance for the rehabilitation of earthquake victims and now 50 schools would be rehabilitated there.

When asked why the US was discriminating against Pakistan by avoiding provision of nuclear energy for civilian purposes, unlike in case of India, he said his country was supporting Pakistan to remove its energy crisis by importing electricity from Central Asia and by exploring other renewable energy means.

However, he said the mandate of the USAID was to provide support for health, education, women development and other social issues.

Asked how much the US had offered to Pakistan after 9/11, he said a three-year economic assistance programme worth $1.5 billion was being implemented. He referred to the $16.7 million worth of sage drinking water project launched in Rawalpindi on Wednesday, which was part of the $1.5 billion programme.