CGCDCA linkage development workshop held

CHITRAL:  A day long workshop on Linkage development held here under the chair of Tehsil Nazim Chitral Sartaj Ahmad Khan in a local hotel. The workshop was organized by Chitral goal Community Development & Conservation Association (CGCDCA). Addressing on the occasion District Nazim Haji Maghfirat Shah stressed upon the stakeholders that they must utilize this platform for benefiting the community from Chitral goal project, which was winded up on December 31. He said that all members and stakeholders of the association should to communicate their message and to motivate local people for conservation of natural resources like forest, wild life, water and other component for our coming generations.  He said that Assets of Protected Area Management Project (PAMP) and creation of endowment fund initially agreed by the project at the time of signing of Memorandum of Understanding with Village conservation committees but the project is not fulfilling its commitment regarding handing over its assets and establishment of endowment fund. The stakeholders determined for taking back these assets from PAMP with a polite way otherwise they will take stern action as was as to approach the court of justice for their rights. Stakeholders of the meeting also condemned the delay of establishment of endowment fund according to the MoU similarly the members also demanded in the meeting for regularizing services of community watchers and enhancement of their salaries.

 Tehsil Nazim Chitral Sartaj Ahmad Khan who was chief guest on the occasion assured that he will develop linkage of this Local support organization to high up of provincial government as well to concern authority like chief conservator, secretary and minister forest and Environment.  A committee under the chair of Sartaj Ahmad Khan was also formed to  take up all the issues with higher authorities particularly with chief conservator wild life NWFP and project Manager PAMP Chitral to achieve their demands and genuine rights.  Addressing on the occasion Sartaj Khan  said that all hurdles in its way would be eliminated to enable local community for conservation of the nature. On this occasion name of  Sartaj Ahmad Khan was also formally included in its board of Director. Main objective of the workshop was to motivate local community for conservation of forest and natural resources and to develop mutual harmony and to boost interactions among the civil society and government agencies. A large number of representatives of different civil society attended the workshop.  It is worth to mention here that PAMP was a Global Environmental Facility (GEF) funded project and its goal was to conserve Chitral goal national park with the participation of custodian communities. But PAMP will not honor the contents of the MoU signed with VCC since its inception but Chitral goal national park project badly failed to develop trust of local community.