SDC, IC and Govt of NWFP Launch Livelihood Programme in NWFP and FATA

A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed amongst Govt. of NWFP P&D Department, SDC and IC to forge partnership for implementation of Livelihood Programme in five rainfed Districts of Chitral, Swat, Buner, Karak and DI Khan and Kurram Agency, during a simple, prestigious and elegant Programme launching ceremony held on May 26, 2008 at 6.30 pm at the Pearl Continental Hotel Peshawar. As per MOU, the Swiss Government will provide a grant of CHF7.791 million equivalent to Rs.365 million for phase 1 of the Programme extended over three years. Intercooperation (IC) will implement the Programme in close partnership with P&D Department Govt. of NWFP. The P&D Department on its behalf has already notified the Chief Economist Govt. of NWFP as ex-officio Programme Director.

The ceremony amongst others was attended by Senior Minister P&D Govt of NWFP, Swiss Ambassador, Additional Chief Secretary Govt. of NWFP, Country Director SDC, Provincial Secretaries, District Nazims, District Coordination Officers and senior officials from government and NGOs. The Senior Minister P&D and Power, Mr. Rahim Dad Khan in his address at the occasion extended his gratitude to the Swiss Govt. for supporting the provincial Govt. in many of its internationally acclaimed projects such as KIDP and PHP as well as for its current support for the Livelihood Programme that will be implemented in extreme poverty pockets of NWFP. The Senior Minister assured SDC of a whole-hearted support of the provincial Govt. in implementation of the programme. The Ambassador of Switzerland to Pakistan, Mr. Markus Peter, in his speech highlighted the mutual support and cooperation both governments have experienced in implementing development projects in NWFP supported by the Swiss Government. The Country Director of SDC, Mr. Pius Rohner, expressed hoped that the current programme being more embracive will not only contribute to poverty alleviation within the programme areas, but will also promote concepts in development for wide scale replication elsewhere, based on communities’ potentials. Hence, it will contribute significantly to the Govt.’s pursuit of poverty alleviation and development in remote areas.

Some Pictures from MoU Ceremony

Speeches during the Ceremony