WASHINGTON: The US Senate voted Thursday to triple non-military aid to Pakistan to roughly 1.5 billion dollars per year through 2014 in a bid to build trust and cooperation with a key ally against extremism.

Senators unanimously approved the measure, which could go through the House of Representatives as early as Friday and from there to US President Barack Obama's desk to be signed into law.

Supporters of the legislation -- an updated version of a bill backed by President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, when they were senators -- say the measure aims to banish any doubts that Washington has made a long-term commitment to helping Pakistan.

The measure, which seeks to use economic development to battle the despair that can fuel extremism, comes at a time when Obama has vowed to overhaul US strategy for Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan.