The House Committee on Appropriations has approved $1.9 billion for Pakistan for the next fiscal year, $591 million above the request. This also includes $597 million to help address the economic crisis, about $100 million above the request.

The fund to address the economic crisis will be used for agriculture and food security, strengthening national and provincial governance, expanding the rule of law, and improving access to and quality of education. The amount also includes assistance for more than a million people displaced in the fight against terror and now sheltered in makeshift camps across the country.

On Thursday evening, the committee also approved $400 million, as requested, for the Pakistan Counterinsurgency Capability Fund, available from the next fiscal year, which begins on Sept. 30, 2009. The fund will be used to build the counterinsurgency capabilities of the Pakistani security forces. The committee also approved $897 million, $91 million above the request, for a new secure US embassy and consulates in Pakistan. A separate amount of $46 million is for diplomatic operations including additional civilian staff and diplomatic security.