The Morrison government will cease all bilateral aid to Pakistan, which includes support for successful programs helping poor women and girls, as funds for development assistance are diverted to the Pacific.

Australia has a 70-year history of providing aid to Pakistan but will end all government to government development assistance in 2020-21, the latest aid program performance report on Pakistan reveals.

Girls reading in Karachi, Pakistan. Australia's aid to Pakistan has focused on assisting women and girls. Credit:AP

“Funding in Australia’s overall aid program has been redirected to support new initiatives in our immediate Pacific region,” it said.

“This has reduced bilateral aid to Pakistan from $39.2 million in 2018-19 to $19 million in 2019-20 and funding for bilateral programs will fully cease in 2020-21.”