ISLAMABAD: In the wake of USAID program closures in Pakistan, many non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are grappling with rising unemployment, prompting a deeper reflection on the substantial contributions made by this pivotal agency since 1947.
Founded in the infancy of Pakistan’s statehood, USAID, known globally as the United States Agency for International Development, has channelled approximately $30 billion into exceptional development projects across various sectors, including power generation, water and irrigation, economic development, education, and disaster response.
Throughout the 1950s and 60s, USAID significantly boosted agricultural productivity by investing in the development of high-yield varieties of wheat and rice. The agency also supported extensive research at institutions like the Faisalabad Agriculture Institute and the Institute of Business Administration in Karachi.
Notably, USAID provided technical assistance for the Tarbela Dam, one of the world’s largest earth-filled dams, contributing to the production of 4,888 megawatts of electricity. Support extended to other key infrastructural projects like the upgrading and maintenance of the Mangla Dam and the Warsak Dam.

Post-9/11, as American interest in Pakistan heightened, the USAID played a critical role in enhancing economic growth, governance, anti-terrorism efforts, and stability. This included a $43.5 million investment in economic development and increased investment from 2013 to 2027, and a $16.8 million program boosting investments from 2021 to 2026. Moreover, expansions in the Tarbela Dam received $150 million, while $8.5 million went to energy sector advisories and $97 million supported the completion of the Gomal Zam Dam.
Efforts extended to the Wara Canal System with a $12 million investment, benefitting irrigation of over 28,000 acres, and $81 million was allocated to phase one of the Kurram Tangi Dam. USAID also allocated $17.9 million to improve access to clean drinking water and initiated a $19.1 million campaign to enhance electoral and legislative processes, alongside resolving land registration issues in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with $17.5 million from 2021 to 2025.
In education, USAID trained over 100,000 teachers nationwide and spent $20 million on leadership training across governance, economic development, and security sectors. Following the 2005 earthquake and the 2010 floods, USAID’s relief efforts amounted to $510 million and $676 million, respectively, to provide food, temporary housing, and agricultural rehabilitation. As recently as 2022, $53.1 million was allocated for flood assistance.
However, the freezing of USAID funds has resulted in the closure of 39 projects worth $845.6 million, triggering widespread unemployment in Pakistan’s development sector and disrupting the vital role NGOs play in the country’s progress. As Pakistan adapts to this new reality, the legacy of USAID’s transformative journey since 1947 continues to illuminate the path forward.