ISLAMABAD, Dec 10: Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat has said the government is joining hands with civil society organizations to alleviate poverty from the Northern Areas and Chitral.

He was speaking at the inauguration of a three-day exhibition where art, craft and various other products of the Northern Areas and Chitral were put on display.

The exhibition 'Treasures of the Northern Areas and Chitral' has been organized by Agha Khan Culture Service Pakistan, Baltistan Enterprise Development and Arts Revival Programme, Agha Khan Rural Support Programme and Shubinak. A large number of local and foreign visitors thronged the exhibition.

The minister said the government would support civil society organizations in various ventures aimed at income generation and enterprise opportunities for the disadvantaged segment of the population of the Northern Areas, particularly women and small producers.

He said the government had allocated a record number of development funds for the economic uplift of the six districts of the Northern Areas this year. He directed the Northern Areas administration to ensure proper implementation of development projects to benefit the people of the area and bring tangible changes in their lives.

The government, he observed, would support public-private partnerships in various areas to promote the products of the area. He said he had also asked for the extension of offices of Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Smeda) and Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) to the Northern Areas.

Mr Hayat said the government would assess the feasibility of establishing permanent display and marketing centres for crafts and other products of the Northern Areas in other parts of the country.

The centres would provide opportunity to women, artisans, and small producers to have a permanent and continual access to those markets instead of displaying their works in an event which was held only once a year.

Mr Hayat commended the efforts of Aga Khan Foundation and its allied institutions for initiating development projects for the welfare of the people of the area.

He appreciated the initiatives being taken by Karakorum Area Development Organization (KADO) for local arts and crafts for the empowerment of disadvantaged segments of the society including women and special people in the area.

He appreciated the hard work of the women artisans and craftsmen and also the quality of their products. Kara korum Area Development Organization (KADO) Chairman Sher Aalam, in his welcome speech, highlighted the aims and objectives of the exhibition and programmes initiated by the organization for the welfare and skill development of women and the disadvantaged section of society.

The exhibition was attended by the speaker of the Northern Areas Legislative Council (NALC), Malik Miskeen, and its members, diplomats, representatives of donor countries, people from Gilgit, Hunza, Chitral and other parts of the Northern areas. Different varieties of handicrafts, gems, dry fruits, apricot oil, honey and carpets woven by local artisans were on display.