Washington, June 12 (ANI): The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has appointed a new mission director to Pakistan, with an aim to cut its development projects in the country from 150 to 50 this year.

Jonathon Conly has been appointed as the new mission director who is expected to join office by the end of June. Conly has been a member of the Senior Foreign Service since 1996, and holds the rank of minister counselor. He has been working in international development since 1971 as a Peace Corps volunteer, reports The Express Tribune.

Conly previously served as a volunteer in Pakistan in 1989-1990, and has also worked at U.S. embassies in Egypt, Bangladesh and Kenya amongst other countries. His last overseas assignment was in Georgia.

The posting comes as USAID cancelled its funding of Sesame Street Pakistan, amidst allegations that the Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop was involved in corruption in the production of the programme. (ANI)