AKRSP plaid vital role in development of Chitral. Said provincial Minister.
CHITRAL: Aga Khan Rural Support Program (AKRSP) plaid vital role in uplifting, development of Chitral and changing behaviors of masses these views were expressed by Provincial Minster for Population welfare Saleem Khan during the visiting of AKRSP office and briefing regarding achievement and challenges to non government agency working at Chitral. He said although Chitral is very advance in education having high literacy ratio as comparative than other districts but even than it need more attention for uplifting and changing life standard of downtrodden people. He said that AKRSP completed so many micro hydro projects where there is no access of government and no supply of electricity by the state running organization. He said that although Chitral having potential of 5000 mega watt power generation but no solid step have been taken in this regard. He said that he issued directive to high ups of SHYDO and Wapda for feasibility report for construction of a mega powerhouse. He said that Chitral would never so develop if AKRSP not support and not launch uplift schemes. He said work of AKRSP is highly appreciable who changed life standard of common people and their behaviors as well as they created awareness among the masses. He said that AKRSP completed some mega projects with a nominal fund which was not possible in such little amount by Government as such schemes completing with billion of cost by state running organizations. And AKRSP has spread its net work.
He said that AKRSP working in different sectors development and non-development like construction of link roads, micro hydro power stations, promoting of agriculture, orchards, horticulture, promoting local society through LSOs (Local Support Organizations) and supporting small non governmental organizations as well as women development. He said that there is only 2% cultivable land at Chitral while 80% of mineral quarries have been leased by outsiders, which will be cancelled and would be issued to local persons he added. Earlier that Regional Program Manager of AKRSP Engineer Sardar Ayub briefed the Provincial minister in his presentation regarding progress, achievement of its target and challenges of AKRSP briefed that he. Eng. Sardar Ayub said that AKRSP have completed 60 micro hydro power stations at different parts of Chitral where there is no electricity supply by government. As some mini hydropower houses would be established at Drosh, Ursoon, Madagalsht etc, which are the most remote and inaccessible areas of Chitral. These hydro power stations having the power generation capacity of 100 to 300 KV. He said that AKRSP has completed micro hydro power stations at different parts of Chitral having total capacity of 1450 KV of power generation which benefiting more than 3000 house holds. He said some other projects are under process, which will be started after granting of fund. Hence one project of Institutional Development for Poverty Reduction (IDPR) funded by CIDA (Canadian International Development Agency) is closing at March 2009 if more fund was not released. As a result AKRSP will face downsizing in its staff positions. AKRSP also have the challenges of sustainability of LSOs, increasing of extremisms in surrounding districts, climate (untimely) snowfall and massive flood. He thanked Tehsil Nazim Sartaj Ahmad Khan for his out of they way support in the interest of public. Besides them president of PPP Chitral chapter Zainul Abideen also highly appreciated AKRSP role in development of Chitral and its efforts of uplifting this backward district.
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