The Government of the United Kingdom (UK) announced Thursday an assistance of 172 million pound sterling (NRs. 19.78 billion) to Nepal for the next three years - 2009 to 2012. The pledge for support was made by visiting UK Minister for International Development Mike Foster launching a three-year plan of UK’s Department of International Department (DFID) in Nepal. [...] With the new DFID country plan in Nepal that amounts to nearly Rs. 20 billion, the UK has increased its aid to Nepal by 46 per cent compared to the previous three-year plan. In addition to this, the UK has pledged to provide a sum of 4 million pound sterling to fund the World Food Programme projects in the country.