KHAR: The Bajaur Agency political administration on Monday asked the non-government organisations to work for improving living standard of the militancy-hit people.

The call was made by Bajaur Additional Political Agent Mohammad Irfanuddin while speaking at a meeting with representatives of NGOs at his office here.

The meeting discussed issues related to the rehabilitation activities being carried out by the NGOs across the agency. The additional political agent was informed that currently about 20 INGOs and NGOs had been operating in different sectors in the militancy-hit areas.

The NGOs’ representatives claimed that almost all the infrastructure and public services had been rehabilitated in Bajaur.

They pledged to continue efforts for further improving the living standard of the people by initiating the public welfare-oriented projects in the region.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Irfanuddin said though the government and the political administration were trying their best to improve socio-economic lot people it was difficult without the support of NGOs.

He asked the NGO representatives to convince their senior officials to allocate additional funds for projects in Bajaur as the region was worst affected by militancy and resultant military operations.

Mr Irfanuddin urged the participants to enhance coordination with the community members for their operations instead of consulting only influential people so that ordinary people could benefit from their projects.

He said there had been numerous complaints that the NGOs preferred to benefit influential persons, and avoided launching community-based schemes.

It was decided that the NGOs would submit reports of their activities every month to the office of the additional political agent.

It was also decided that the political administration would evolve a monitoring system to keep a close watch over the activities of NGOs.

Published in Dawn, January 26th, 2016