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Norwegian Fund for Chitral.

This refers to Daily DAWN dated December 13, 2009 “Discord over Norwegian funded project in Chitral”. People of Chitral are no doubt fortunate to have been blessed with countries and persons who very much know their social responsibilities about the needy community in developing/under developed countries in the world over. Same is with isolated remote district of Chitral in NWFP where quite a well known NGOs entered in past half century mainly Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), SRSP, IUCN and CADP that developed infrastructure, agriculture, livestock, social sectors and human resource development making income generation possible for reducing poverty and improving the living condition of the people of Chitral. AKDN and SRSP are still working actively for the development of Chitral. These non profit making NGOs did a lot for poverty reduction and improvement of the living condition of poor people in Chitral.

People of Chitral feel proud of District Government specially the district nazim who through a unanimous resolution made it compulsory on CIADP to execute development projects through community organizations namely Local Support Organizations (LSOs) in Chitral and at the same time has taken initiative to form LSO in the areas not formed before. This is no doubt an encouraging step taken by district nazim Chitral.

Regret to hear from reliable social circle of Chitral and media that Norwegian mega Fund for Chitral has been given in the hand of Islambad based contractor, Thrive. Much better if it would have been given in the hand of not profit making NGOs already working in Chitral. Rural Support Program Net (RSPN) a not profit making, a most trusted, neutral and cultured Islamabad based NGO with experience of working with the community organizations in rural areas was also available for Norwegian Embassy. It is said that main stakeholders like MNA, MPAs are not taken into confidence and hence not supporting the contractor. AKRSP, SRSP and IUCN are reported to have withdrawn their support and role in CIADP. CIADP is said to have developed differences with one of the main LSO namely QASADO in upper Chitral. Under the circumstances District Nazim’s chairmanship of steering committee is a question mark. Who are on the committee? It is more surprising that District Council resolution making execution of projects compulsory by LSOs in Chitral, seems bringing no result on the ground. This shall be most unfortunate for the people of Chitral if this fund goes waste without reaching to the needy community for which Norwegian Government and the people of Norway have sent it.

Fida Ali Khan
Karachi.