The News – Thursday, December 04, 2008, Our correspondent
CHITRAL: Inter-cooperation, a Swiss agency for development and international cooperation, Wednesday said its livelihood programme would improve agriculture sector in the district.
The Inter-cooperation country representative, Pierre Yves Suter said the programme would boost economic condition of two valleys, Berir (Kalash community) and Sheshi, as the programme works in sectors like agriculture, forestation, promoting handicrafts, mini-business, etc.
Involvement of local community for ownership of the project, their cooperation with skill development agencies and its implementation through partner NGO are necessary for successful execution of the programme.
Chitral Tehsil Nazim Sartaj Ahmad Khan said the tehsil municipal administration (TMA) was trying to inbreed two rare cows and sheep. He also proposed establishment of a Trout fish farm for and protection of forests, saying alternate arrangements be made for grazing of goats to preserve forests.
He said more land should be made cultivable as there was only two per cent cultivable land in Chitral and also proposed establishment of a pine nut and walnut market in Drosh for their marketing and supply to other areas.
He suggested the setting up of a display and training centre at TMA office to promote local handicrafts. He said though the livelihood programme did not invest on large scale, it motivated and encouraged local people to launch their mini-businesses.
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Netherlands to help Pakistan achieve MDGs نیدر لینڈ وسیع تر ترقی کے مقاصد حاصل کرنے کے لیے پاکستان کی مدد کرےگا۔
The News – Thursday, December 04, 2008,
By our correspondent
Karachi: The Netherlands is keen to facilitate Pakistan on security issues, economic stability and social development, Dutch Ambassador, Tjeerd De Zwaan, said at a reception held the other day at the residence of the Honorary Consul-General of Netherlands in Karachi, Tarek M. Khan. The ambassador maintained that Netherlands is keen to assist Pakistan in its efforts to recover from the present economic crisis, and added that his country would continue to promote investment and joint ventures for Pakistan.
While acknowledging the natural and human resources that Pakistan has for attaining development, the Dutch ambassador said that Netherlands aimed to support Pakistan in achieving the Millennium Development Goals.
The Netherlands will provide Euros 140 million to Pakistan under the Multi-Annual Strategic Plan (2008-2011) – a four year development strategy. “Education, good governance and environment are the main focuses of the Dutch International Cooperation Programme with Pakistan,” said Zwaan.
He further added that Netherlands will also help Pakistan in meeting its energy needs in an environmentally sound and sustainable manner, while assistance in waste management and the introduction of new efficient technologies would also be part of the support.
Pakistan is the most urbanised country in South Asia and is experiencing a rapid transition with an urban population growth rate that is twice the rate of increase in the overall population, said the ambassador. He pointed out that at least one-third of the total urban population of the large cities of Pakistan lives in slums which lack basic services.
While discussing the Dutch projects in Pakistan, the ambassador said that Netherlands had supported the construction of a Combined Effluent Treatment Plant in Korangi that treats the waste water of 140 tanneries.
In the education sector, a programme for early childhood development for both, boys and girls, is implemented in the Northern Areas, Chitral, Sindh and Balochistan. Another programme implemented by WWF enables the local communities of Sindh to make their livelihoods more sustainable.
تعلیم کے شعبے میں بچوں اور بچیوں کی ابتدایی تعلیم و تربیت کے لیے ایک پروگرام شمالی علاقوں، چترال، سندھ اور بلوچستان میں شروع کیا گیا ہے۔سندھ کے مقامی لوگو ں کی زندگی بہتر بنانے کے لیے ایک اور پروگرام ڈبلیو ڈبلیو ایف کی جانب سے شرو کیا جاچکاہے۔
