CANADA ANNOUNCES $47M PAKISTAN PACKAGE

Canada has announced more than $47 million in new funding for Pakistan during Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand’s official visit to Islamabad, marking the first visit by a Canadian foreign minister to the country in nearly two decades. The funding package combines $45 million in international development assistance with an additional more than $2.2 million for security cooperation initiatives.

According to Global Affairs Canada, the development funding will support three major initiatives: $10 million to help restore access to education for children affected by devastating floods, $15 million to strengthen climate resilience through projects led by the Aga Khan Foundation Canada, and $20 million to expand reproductive health and family planning services in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund.

The additional security funding will support joint efforts involving INTERPOL, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and the RCMP to combat terrorism and transnational organized crime. During the visit, Canada and Pakistan also discussed expanding trade and investment, including clean energy cooperation and increased market access for Canadian agricultural exports such as canola.

The announcement comes as Canada continues to strengthen its engagement in the Indo-Pacific region while maintaining longstanding development partnerships abroad. Supporters argue the investments promote stability, education, and economic development, while critics question whether additional foreign aid should be prioritized at a time when many Canadians continue to face rising housing costs and affordability challenges at home.