Article about AKDN work in Chitral

Local Govt, NGO, Cooperation displayed

CHITRAL,21 Dec 06: Policy Dialogue and Partnership meeting was  held
here under the chair of District Naib Nazim Sultan Shah. Actg RPM Aga
Khan Rural support Program (AKRSP) Sherzad participated on behalf of
NGO. Addressing the ceremony Tehsil Nazim Sartaj Ahmad Khan said that
AKRSP funded TMA for office furnishing. They will also help municipal
library under an agreement of public private partnership. We took
initiative and contacted non government organizations and this is
third dialogue with AKRSP in this regard. He said we want to establish
a digital library where research scholars are facilitated. He said
that this is first exercise of district government with a non
government organization and joint venture to upgrade our public
library. He said that there is suitable atmosphere for donors at Chitral.

Actg RPM AKRSP said that we work for development of the district with
collaboration of district government in different sectors. Canadian
International Development Agency (CIDA) is  supporting us
institutionally in different components. We work for women development
and will establish an office for them at Tehsil Municipal
Administration office because there is no separate office for lady
councilors. This is policy dialogue on partnership with TMA who will
provide us land and we will furnish office for women councilors. He
said that AKRSP also funding public library to enabling it to meet the
recent challenges of IT. He said that AKRSP was working isolated in
past but now it changed its policy and is working in joint venture
with government institutions. We want to boost information technology
at Chitral. He said the public library would be well furnished and
sophisticated with 5 computers, printer and internet facilities.
Donation would be Rs150000 while TMA share is 50,000. Similarly we
will donate 234000 for opening an office for women councilors.  Farid
Ahmad handed over cheque of first installment to the TMO for the purpose.

District Naib Nazim Sultan Shah hailed AKRSP services for Chitral
district. He said that AKRSP spend billions of rupees in Chitral in
different uplift schemes but not visible  to the  public due to not
publicizing same. He said a nation can never develop until they adopt
latest information technology. He said that it is impossible for
district government to over come all problems and requirement of the
masses without involving of NGOs. He said that AKDN has purchased a
piece of land for Professional Development centre at Chitral and a
building will be constructed there very soon.

Meanwhile Tehsil Nazim also inaugurated a scheme of potable drinking
water at Singor village benefiting some 80 house holds. Dr. Fida
Azizud Din MS of DHQ Hospital welcomed and thanked TMA for giving
water supply connection especially to girls middle school at Singore.
Gul Nawaz Khaki demanded for extending ofpipelines to other areas
which were deprived of drinking water. He also demanded for supply of
electricity to Singore area from the local hydro station regularly.
Muhammad Riaz Nazim UC II Chitral also spoke on the occasion and
assured the public of his full support. Tehsil Nazim announced 5% free
connection to poor people. District Naib Nazim and other public
representatives also expressed their views on the occasion. The scheme
was completed with a cost of 300000 by MPA fund 8000 feet pipeline.
(GH Farooqi)

Chitral News