WASHINGTON (Dawn) -- The United States and its allies are drafting a $5 billion ‘Marshall Plan for Pakistan’ to help rebuild the shattered economy of a key ally in the war against extremists.

Officials at the Pakistan Embassy in Washington told Dawn that more than $5 billion has already been pledged.
Most of the pledges come from America’s western allies but Washington also is encouraging oil rich countries in the Middle East, particularly Saudi Arabia, to contribute generously.
Pakistani diplomats involved in the process said that half of the money so far pledged has been earmarked to help rebuild homes, roads, bridges, schools and hospitals in Swat and adjacent areas.
The Marshall Plan, named after George Marshall, the U.S. secretary of state after the Second World War, provided funds and expertise to help with the reconstruction of Europe.
Pakistan called for its own ‘Marshall Plan’ earlier this year, saying the country needed $30 billion over the next five years to deal with militancy and rebuild its economy.
Ambassador Husain Haqqani, who has been negotiating the plan with U.S. officials in Washington, said Pakistan was recruiting a new 100,000-strong police force to combat terrorists.
He said that each province would have its own force and most of the recruits would come from the army, particularly its special forces which retire their soldiers at an early age.