March 12, 2003	Wednesday	Muharram 8, 1424

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MUZAFFARABAD, March 11: The World Food Programme is most likely to extend its assistance in the execution of integrated land management in Azad Jammu and Kashmir over the next four years by providing a grant in aid of around Rs140 million, an official said here on Monday.

The ILM project, which focuses on plantation and soil conservation in Azad Kashmir, was to finish in 2003. However, AJK secretary forests Dr Salahuddin told Dawn that their project had been rated by the WFP as one of the best projects and hence decided to include AJK on priority basis in its country programme for 2004-2008.

The WFP country representative in Pakistan, Mr German Valdivia, also inaugurated the regional office of the organization in Muzaffarabad on Monday where its regional programme officer would sit for day to day monitoring of the projects being run in different sectors with WFP assistance.

The inauguration ceremony was also attended by Dr Salahuddin, chief conservator of forests Sardar Farooq Khan and other senior government officials. The office has been set up on the premises of Forest School in Plate.

Earlier, Mr Valdivia also undertook field visit to some rural areas in district Muzaffarabad where he spoke to the women who the WFP is supporting under participatory approach with a view to creating assets for the women and children.