The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is committed to carry out developmental initiatives under its long term commitment and interventions in various sectors of militancy affected Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA.
The agency had initiated different schemes for development of education, health, and infrastructure, and revival of tourism, fishery, hotel industry, said Paul Mc Dermott, USAID deputy director KP/FATA while briefing a group of media persons here at US consulate on Friday.
He informed that USAID had rehabilitated more than 130 educational institutions in six districts of province, including Swat, Buner, Upper and Lower Dir, Malakand and Shangla. He further added that around 24 schools would be rehabilitated by end of this year.
Dermott said that the agency has also extended financial assistance for construction of dams and recovery of agriculture and livelihood sectors badly affected in flash floods in the province.
He informed that about US $ 47 million funds had been provided for provision of better health facilities and instruments at different basic health units and hospitals.
The agency Deputy Director said that the health delivery system had upgraded in Malakand agency, saying that the USAID also extended funds for improvement of water and sanitation system in the province.
"We want Pakistan to succeed, to be more stable and have a more prosperous economy," he said.
Under the SME recovery program, he further informed that the agency had already spent US $ 0.8 million for revival of hotel industry and fishery sector in scenic valley of Swat.
"Our top priority is to revive agriculture, fishery, tourism, and hotel industry to recovery war-affected economy of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa," he maintained.
He said the agency would also extend funds for hydel generation projects to meet the growing energy demand of the country.
To reply a query, Dermott said that the USAID has kept check on its funding agencies and assessment of overall activities to avoid corruption and maladministration in the funds. He said they had taken serious action against those who were involved in corruption.
He urged that media to highlight development work carried by USAID for the last decades in Pakistan under a long term commitment.
Regarding the FATA development programme, he said that the agency had initiated different schemes in infrastructure development and reconstruction and rehabilitation road network in tribal region.
He informed that about 215 kilometer long roads had reconstructed in different areas of Warizistan agency.
He further informed that the steps are being taken for revival of marble and gem stone sectors in tribal agencies. He said that USAID would launch a livelihood programme very shortly in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
No comments:
Post a Comment