International partners urged to help develop merged areas’

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa officials on Tuesday sought special cooperation from international partners to develop merged areas that suffered a lot during the war against terrorism.

The request was made as a delegation of the World Bank led by its Regional Vice-President for South Asia Martin Raiser called on officials here, said a handout.Country Director World Bank Najy Benhassine was also among the delegates.

Advisor to Chief Minister Syed Fakhar Jehan, MNA Faisal Amin Gandapur, additional chief secretary, administrative secretaries of relevant departments and other officials attended the meeting. The matters of mutual interest with a special focus on public welfare projects being executed in the province with the financial assistance of the World Bank were discussed.

Prospects of cooperation in the various social sectors, including education, road infrastructure projects, human capital, climate change and other important sectors also came under discussion.

The dignitaries agreed to enhance cooperation in the different sectors including education, health, social welfare, agriculture, tourism, road communication and technical education. The KP government high-ups said that the World Bank was playing an important role in executing public welfare projects in the province.

They said infrastructure development, revival of business activities and providing employment opportunities to the youth of merged districts were priorities of the provincial government.The officials maintained that multiple initiatives were underway, through which youth of the province, especially the merged areas, would be imparted with market-based technical skills, thereby enabling them to get job opportunities.