China, UNDP sign $4m pact to help Fata rehabilitation

Islamabad : With launch of South-South Cooperation Fund, China and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on Friday signed $04 million agreement for helping Pakistan’s conflict hit parts of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) and Balochistan in areas of livelihood, rehabilitation and education sectors.

In a unique example of south-south collaboration, China and UNDP Pakistan signed a $04 million agreement to provide assistance over four months in parts of Fata and Balochistan that have been affected by natural and human-made crises.

The “China South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund for the recovery project in Fata and Balochistan” will help 8,100 families returning to the areas affected by insecurity in Fata to rebuild their lives.

In Balochistan, about 19,000 school children will benefit as the schools that were damaged in the 2010--2011 floods are refurbished.

On this occasion, Yao Jing, China’s Ambassador to Pakistan, said that they had launched South-South Cooperation Fund three years ago and China reiterated to focus on this fund under its initiative of One Belt- One Road (OBOR).

He appreciated the role played by the UNDP for ensuring effective delivery and expanding its network in Pakistan and said that he had recently visited Gwadar and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) for closely reviewing development initiative undertaken in areas of Gwadar and Fata. He said that China was open to work jointly with other UN agencies as they wanted to bring betterment in life of citizen of Pakistan. He said that China could assist for promoting cultural ties, education, social economic assistance and improving law and order situation.

“This project demonstrates that we stand shoulder to shoulder with people of Pakistan,” he said and added, “The successful laun-ching of this project renews our commitment to deliver strong support to the people of Pakistan.

In future, China will continue to increase the grant assistance to Pakistan, enriching the categories and sectors, expanding the input into areas with pressing demands, including Fata and Balochistan.”

Muhammad Aslam Chaudhry, Joint Secretary, Economic Affairs Division, said, “We are thankful to the government of China for this initiative to provide immediate response to meet the needs of communities in Fata and Balochistan.

This project would support the people in restoration of livelihoods and help to rebuild their lives.”

He said that China was helping Pakistan for development of Gwadar through grant assistance and also undertaking development projects under the CPEC.

Ignacio Artaza, UNDP Pakistan Country Director, said, “Fata and Balochistan are amongst the country’s least developed regions and, in recent years, have been severely affected by disasters.

This support from China will help temporarily displaced families get back on their feet as they return home after years of uncertainty, and help ensure that schools in Balochistan meet the necessary conditions to keep young students in school.”

The recovery project is supported by the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) of the People’s Republic of China and implemented by the UNDP.

The project aims to provide immediate response to meet the needs of the affected individual and communities through the distribution of essential supplies for the restoration of livelihoods.

This initiative builds on UNDP’s ongoing support for early recovery and rehabilitation of affected populations in Pakistan and will provide 56,700 people (8,100 families) in Kurram, South Waziristan, North Waziristan, Khyber and Orakzai agencies with construction kits to rebuild their homes, as well as essential household items.

In Balochistan’s Naseerabad, Jafferabad and Sohbatpur districts, which were the worst affected by the 2010–2011 floods, 375 schools will receive new furniture and education kits.

The project will be implemented in partnership with the government, stakeholders, including the Disaster Management Authority, Fata Secretariat and Temporarily Displaced People Secretariat in Fata, and in Balochistan, the Departments of Education and Planning and Development.