German donors team visited Chitral, examined different projects.
By: Gul Hamaad Farooqi
CHITRAL: Aga Khan Rural Support Programme is proposing to support the communities in close to borders areas of Chitral such as Yarkhun-Broghil valley, Garam Chashma, Kalash and Arandu valley. Under PATRIP (Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan Regional Integrated program) these areas have tremendous potential for promoting cross border trades and cultural exchange. Broghil and Kalash festival are some examples of cross border cultural exchange and tourism development potentials. Facilitated by Aga Khan Foundation Pakistan, Germany based senior officials of KFW and PATRIP Foundation visited the potential project areas such as Yarkhun-Broghil valley and Garam Chashma.
The communities showed deep appreciation for the support of KFW in terms of physical infrastructure projects undertaken (Water supply, bridges and micro-hydro units) by AKRSP through Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF). The communities also identified a number of projects including link roads, irrigation channels and micro-hydro projects which can help improve the economic conditions in the cross borders areas leading promote cross border trades, eco-tourism and cultural exchange.
The General Manager of AKRSP and representative of Aga Khan Foundation explained the approach of AKRSP about community driven development in cross border and close to border areas of Chitral and Gilgit Baltistan.
In this connection a function was held at Chewdok village where residents of the area thanked to German based donors and high ups of AKRSP. They said that this area was totally deprived from drinking water and a water supply scheme of 23000 feet long was completed with 2.5 million funded by PPAF through AKRSP. As a result 2700 population was benefited from the scheme now they can drink potable clean water and also irrigate their fruit plants. German donor Miss Diana meet local women who are being supported by PPAF in different livelihood programs.
Those who visited these projects were Olaf Zymelka head of Pakistan Afghanistan KFP and chairman PATRIP board, Jen Clausen Head of Governance and Peace division Pak Afghan KFW and vice chairman PATRIP, Diana Hedrich Project Manger PATRIP and board member, Marcel Consultant PATRIP, Wolfgang Mellers country director KFW Pakistan, Shahid Nadeem program officer, Abdul Malik General Manager AKRSP and Shahzada Parvez Saeed consultant PATRIP. They were returned back to Islamabad in a AKF helicopter.
Gul Hamaad Farooqi C/O Manager bank Islami Main branch Chitral Pakistan phone No (0092) 0943-320737, 0943-316052, 0943-414418 ,03205989602, 03025989602, 03337069572, 03159698446, 03469002167
email: gulhamad@gmail.com,ghfarooqi@rediffmail.com, gulhamaad786@yahoo.co.uk,ghfarooqi@rediffmail.com,gulhamadfarooqui@outlook.com