The American Government is supporting the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in expanding governance, improving services delivery, creating economic opportunities and developing infrastructure in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, especially the Merged Areas. These remarks were given by Altaf Afridi, Acting Director USAID-KP office, while addressing a virtual seminar. During his briefing to the press said that Stability and development in KP, particularly in the merged districts along the border with Afghanistan, are critical to global and regional security. These jointly prioritized objectives are in line with Pakistan’s Tribal Decade Strategy for 2020-2030 and the mutual goal to increase stability by delivering development to the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas.
USAID in FATA was still engaged in building schools devastated in terrorism and floods, constructing other infrastructure and upgrading electricity system. In the area solar panels were being installed for regular water systems. USAID partners with the Government of Pakistan to provide technical assistance to provincial and district-level governments to improve their capacity to manage and monitor public services.
Fazal-e-Rabbi highlighted USAID’s efforts in terms of education in KP. Access to quality education supports economic growth, strengthens resilience, and promotes sustainable development, however, the overall literacy rate in the newly merged districts is 28 percent and only eight percent among women. To address these challenges, USAID’s education programs improve the reading abilities of schoolchildren and provide scholarships to deserving young men and women to obtain university education. While replying to a question regarding teacher’s capacity building and women empowerment, Fazal said that teachers had been given special training, so that they would get more skills to deliver.
USAID recently started a Women Economic Project in which there were a good number of women beneficiaries. “Women in the newly merged districts are encouraged to make their names included in voter lists after making CNIC,” he stressed.
Waseem Bari- Economic Growth expert at the occasion highlighted that USAID in KP had the Economic Revitalization Program with a 30 percent quota for women, through which women empowerment was being incorporated in different means. “2700 women from newly merged districts of Khyber, North and South Waziristan have been given business information and commercial skills training, so that they would be able to start their own businesses,” he said.
Mohsin Rose- Agriculture expert while speaking in the webenire said that women’s role in the agriculture sector was imperative, so USAID assisted them in the sector. He said that 3000 women in the area had been given poultry packages, making them economically stable. Beyond establishing 15 greenhouses for women, helping production of improved quality seeds.
Jalil-ur-Rehman Infrastructure expert said that in collaboration with USAID, provincial governments are improving conditions for long-term development and promoting stability by extending the presence of government services throughout their regions. USAID has a large infrastructure program in the merged districts. The focus initially was on highways like Peshawar-Torkham road, Bannu-Ghulam Khan Road, D.I. Khan-Angoor Adda Road, which had been a source of trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
USAID recently in the partnership program with the KPK government constructed 143 km of farm to market roads. The new roads enhance commerce, and toll ways will generate revenues to maintain them which ultimately are working in terms of the prosperity of this region. “A vast road network will be built in different areas of Bajor, Khyber Kurram, and Orakzai districts,” he said “these newly constructed roads will benefit the local population”.
Arif Tabassum, governance expert while answering a question said that USAID hired 130 youth ambassadors including 30 females, from the newly merged districts who conveyed the benefits of merger to residents.
