China, UNDP sign pact to help Pakistan’s tribal areas

Islamabad: China and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) on Friday signed a $4 million agreement to support the recovery of Pakistan’s remote areas that have been affected by natural and human-made crises.

According to the agreement, the project will help 8,100 families returning to the areas affected by insecurity in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) as well as about 19,000 schoolchildren in Balochistan after their schools were damaged in the 2010-2011 floods, Xinhua news agency reported.

UNDP Pakistan Country Director Ignacio Artaza said that FATA and Balochistan were among the country’s least developed regions and have been severely affected by disasters in recent years.

Artaza said that the support from the Chinese government will help temporarily displaced families get back on their feet and ensure that schools in Balochistan meet the necessary conditions to impart education.

Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing said that the successful launching of the “China South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund” project renewed Beijing’s commitment to deliver strong support to the people of Pakistan.

According to the UNDP, the project is built on the UN agency’s ongoing support for early recovery and rehabilitation of affected populations in Pakistan.

It will provide 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.

Also, 375 schools in Balochistan’s Naseerabad, Jafferabad and Sohbatpur districts will receive new furniture and education kits.

In November 2017, the fund provided $1 million to the World Food Programme to help the organization’s initiative in FATA for humanitarian adds.

—IANS