Pakistani Sesame Street will stop getting US funds ☺America ko CHOONA laga Gaye☺

[WatanDost]

Pakistani Sesame Street will stop getting US funds

Amid accusations that the Pakistani Sesame Street is corrupt, the United States cuts its funding.

Amy SilversteinJune 5, 2012 11:32









In April of last year, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) commissioned a new project: Pakistani Sesame Street. USAID planned to donate $20 million to the Rafi Peer Theater Workshop in Pakistan, so that the group could create a local version of the popular children's show, BBC News reported at the time.

But those USAID funds weren't just going to Elmo or Bert and Ernie. It turned out that the Rafi group was misusing the money, Pakistan Today reported. The theater company allegedly hired "blue-eyed" artists instead of Pakistanis, drove around USAID-donated cars for personal use, and used some of the USAID money to pay off old debts unrelated to the show.


“The Rafi Peer Theatre had not given salaries to its employees for the past eight months. When they got the USAID contract, they not only settled the salaries, but other dues to the tune of million of rupees to different companies they were indebted to," a source told Pakistan Today.

After Pakistan Today's story was published, the US Embassy announced today that it would stop funding the project, the Associated Press reported. The corruption allegations will be an embarrassment for the USAID program if they turn out to be true, as some analysts have long criticized the USAID program for "lacking focus," according to the AP.

[Queue Farms]

saray peerzaday bhar liay heavy pays par lol

saray gandi harkatain peer hi kr rhay hayn aaj kal

[mrcritic]

Pakistani Sesame Street will stop getting US funds

Amid accusations that the Pakistani Sesame Street is corrupt, the United States cuts its funding.

Amy SilversteinJune 5, 2012 11:32










In April of last year, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) commissioned a new project: Pakistani Sesame Street. USAID planned to donate $20 million to the Rafi Peer Theater Workshop in Pakistan, so that the group could create a local version of the popular children's show, BBC News reported at the time.

But those USAID funds weren't just going to Elmo or Bert and Ernie. It turned out that the Rafi group was misusing the money, Pakistan Today reported. The theater company allegedly hired "blue-eyed" artists instead of Pakistanis, drove around USAID-donated cars for personal use, and used some of the USAID money to pay off old debts unrelated to the show.


“The Rafi Peer Theatre had not given salaries to its employees for the past eight months. When they got the USAID contract, they not only settled the salaries, but other dues to the tune of million of rupees to different companies they were indebted to," a source told Pakistan Today.

After Pakistan Today's story was published, the US Embassy announced today that it would stop funding the project, the Associated Press reported. The corruption allegations will be an embarrassment for the USAID program if they turn out to be true, as some analysts have long criticized the USAID program for "lacking focus," according to the AP.

It is a conspiracy,” Rafi Peer’s chief executive, Faizaan Peerzada, told TIME. “We have conducted all our operations in line with USAID requirements, down to the type of buses we bought for social outreach programs.” Speaking in Lahore at his family’s Peeru’s Café, which houses the offices and sets of Sim Sim Hamara, Peerzada thinks USAID’s decision to end funding so abruptly may have been motivated by deteriorating ties between Pakistan and the U.S. “I think it was at least partly motivated by that.” The show has been the rare Pakistan-U.S. joint initiative that has never been targeted by conservative groups for promoting American interests or trying to “brainwash” Pakistani children. “The only reaction that the show’s shutdown has elicited is great sadness,” says Navid Shahzad, who performed in the Sesame Street-inspired Such Gup on state television in 1971. “There has been no negative perception even among the diehards.” Indeed, Ali Azmat, a conservative singer who has publicly stated his views against the U.S. war on terror, performed on the show during its first season to show his support.
“We were set to start shooting Season 2 of Sim Sim Hamara on June 15,” Peerzada says. “Even without the involvement of USAID, we had lined up investors who wanted to support this initiative and help reach millions of children across the country.” However, he said, the allegations leveled against his company had jeopardized existing operations and future prospects. “We have no problem with USAID’s decision to end the partnership,” says Peerzada, “but it is unfair to claim that this was motivated by alleged fraud when none exists.” He knew USAID funding would end, but not so soon. “We knew that the maximum possible commitment from USAID was for four years and—if there was money available—$20 million.”
Contrary to Pakistani press accounts, Rafi Peer says it never got the full amount. The promised $20 million was halved shortly after the project was announced, and the remaining disbursal was made subject to congressional approval. USAID’s website, last updated on Jan. 19, confirms that only $10 million had been allocated to the project over a course of four years and also observes that the funding “reflects Congressionally-appropriated funds provided for the project to date.” Of this $10 million, $3 million was allocated to cover Sesame Workshop’s licensing fees, and Rafi Peer was disbursed some $6.7 million as of end-March, according to both Peerzada and the U.S. government.


Read more: http://world.time.com/2012/06/11/why...#ixzz1xTkVyk7q