LSO Convention concluded.
GILGIT/ CHITRAL: 3 days long convention for representatives of Local Support Organizations was concluded on Tuesday. Chief Secretary Northern Areas Babar Yaqub Fateh Ali was chief guest on the occasion while Dr. Ehsanuddin Registrar Kurakurum International University Gilgit also attended the ceremony. The convention was organized by AKRSP at KIU auditorium. Sardar Hussain Chairman BLSO Chitral welcomed to distinguished guest and presented his keynote. He said that Aga Khan Rural Support Program bring a revolution in life of common people by giving them awareness. He said that AKRSP also achieved to bring invisible change in term of changing thoughts of the people through their social mobilization. He demanded for allocating of Lump sum fund for LSOs. As a result LSOs will declared as strong civil society would play vital role in development of the area. Muhammad Hussain Hasrat Vice Chairman LSO Skardu thanked AKRSP for arranging this convention that was participated by representatives of LSOs from Sindh to Northern Areas. He said that RSP were playing vital role for the last 25 years but now LSO established which are playing vital role in development of the area on local basis.
He said we can develop our areas by promoting Eco and Cultural tourism. We have land resources, marine life, wild life water resources but we can,t utilize it because of lack of facilities and proper mechanism. M. Zafar Chairman LSO Gilgit paid rich tribute to Shoaib Sultan the then General Manager of AKRSP who imparted a new think to the people for brining a green revolution in the area. Miss Iram Fatma who was representing LSO Hari pore said that AKRSP plaid role as milestone in development of the area. Muhkamuddin of AVDP quoting maxim of Shoaib Sultan that poverty can be alleviated only is joint effort and thinking. He said that this convention would be role model for representatives of LSOs,
Abul Wahid Director Agriculture said that AKRSP promoted agriculture and now the peasants earning million of rupees by efforts of AKRSP. Ashiq Hussain Director WWF (World Wide Fund for wild life) said that trophy hunting was introduced by AKRSP and local community earning million of rupees. Million of tourists willing to visit Hunjrab, Gilgit and Hunza valley as a result the area will be more devolved economically.
Tehsil Nazim Chitral Sartaj Ahmad Khan thanked Sardar Ayub Regional Program Manager of AKRSP for giving opportunity to repetitive of Chitral. He stressed upon the RSPs to more strengthen these LSOs for sustainable development. He assured of fully cooperation by district government of Chitral to support these LSOs. He said that these LSOs play vital role in changing of behaviors and long-term development.
He stressed upon to promote education, health, sanitation, water and utilizing natural resources. He offered membership as secretary of Health committees for LSO.
Miss Mehar Kamil and Ghani Rehman of Drosh Area Development Program Chitral presented joint recommendations passed by the representatives and participants. These recommendations are mainstreaming participatory development approach inn public policy and funding. AKRSP/AKF and government should create a permanent and dedicated support system for LSOs such as creation of civil society Development fund linkages and partnership for resources mobilization. Legislative protection of Northern Areas and Chitral,s strategic resources cultural heritage and communal land an pastures against increasing external intrusion. Public private partnership efforts for poverty reduction, mainstreaming women and social development into public planning cycles. Joint public community NGOs strategies to combat emerging global threats such as food security, climate change, and disaster risk reduction and social and sectarian disharmony. Creation of a virtual network of LSOs for information sharing experiences and knowledge sharing and joint advocacy and lobbing. They also recommended for accelerate development process by developing key resources of he area such as Hydropower, Minerals, high values horticulture, tourism for the benefit of the people.
General Manger AKRSP Izar Ali Hunzai also spoke on the occasion. Chief guest Babar Yaqub Fateh Muhammad Chief Secretary Northern Areas paid rich tribute to AKRSP and termed it a mother organization playing a milestone in development of the area. In past state was working as empire but now this concept has been abandoned because of local community mostly popular and interesting in the way of community. He said that works under government umbrella have lack of accountability and less responsibility due to no check and balance. He offered AKRSP for joint efforts with them. He said that these joint recommendations will be enlisted in charter and any strategy and policy making will be dealt in view of these recommendations.
Different LSO arranged for demonstration of their handicrafts, medicinal plants. Productions of Chitral were highly appreciated by the masses. These handicrafts consisting on hand make sweater, cap, purse, ring (horn made) and other decoration pieces. At last representatives of government, and non-government organization briefed the participants through presentation. They were representative of Education, Environment, Agribusiness and Diversification, Micro Health Insurance and live stock and Diary department board.
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