PEACE Act of 2009

The Pakistan Enduring Assistance and Cooperation Enhancement (PEACE) Act of 2009 was designed to triple non-military investment in Pakistan to $1.5 billion annually through 2013. The bill aimed to strengthen Pakistan’s democratic institutions and improve public services by funding projects in education, healthcare, judicial reform, and economic development.

For citizens, the bill’s primary impact would have been a shift in U.S. foreign policy toward long-term stability and civilian rule in the region. It sought to create "Reconstruction Opportunity Zones" where certain goods produced in Afghanistan and Pakistan could be exported to the U.S. duty-free, intended to create local jobs and provide an alternative to extremist influence. Additionally, the act placed strict conditions on military aid, requiring the Pakistani government to demonstrate active cooperation in dismantling nuclear smuggling networks and combating terrorist groups to continue receiving security assistance.