WASHINGTON: US Senator Rand Paul introduced a legislation seeking apermanent ban of $2 billion civilian assistance to Pakistan on Saturday.

The bill recommends redirecting the said funds, amounting to $1.28bn fromthe State Department and $852 million from the United States Agency forInternational Development to the Highway Trust Fund.

President Donald Trump had endorsed the move to block civilian aid toPakistan when Senator Paul announced his plan to introduce the bill earlierthis month.

“Good idea Rand,” Mr Trump tweeted.

“We fail our responsibilities to protect our country and properly stewardtaxpayers’ hard-earned money when we support countries that chant ‘Death toAmerica’ and burn our flag,” US Senator Rand Paul said in a statementissued by his office. The statement pointed out that President Trump alsosupported the proposal.

The introduction of the bill is the latest effort by Senator Paul to end USassistance to Pakistan.