CHITRAL: The director of Italian Agency for Development Cooperation in Pakistan, Domenico Bruzzone, has said that the government of Italy has taken up the agenda of expanding cooperation with Pakistan because it is a young economy which could be nurtured thereby alleviating poverty.

Talking to mediapersons at Chitral Press Club here on Wednesday, he said that the Italian government had approved a number of soft loans for technical education, renewable energy, agriculture, economic transformation, water reservoirs, rural development, eco-tourism and culture in the northern areas, which included Chitral.

Flanked by consultant at Italian Embassy, Paola Manfredi, and Italian archaeologist Maria Victoria, he said that the soft loan of 238 million Euros had been approved for Pakistan for development of technical education and renewable energy.

Official says soft loans also approved for projects in Chitral

“Another soft loan of 20 million Euros was approved for growing olive in the north whose soil was best suited for the plant having great potential of expansion,” he said, adding that yet another 20 million Euro meant for development of eco-tourism and related activities was approved for Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral.

“For the amelioration of people living in border areas and the vulnerable communities, a sum of 40 million Euro grant has been sanctioned for rural development, preservation of cultural heritage and interventions for poverty alleviation,” he said.

Mr Bruzzone mentioned Kalash, the ancient people living in the South of Chitral, and the picturesque valley as the one to attract tourists from all over the world if it was developed.

Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund general manager Tahir Malik was also present on the occasion.

MASTUJ BUDGET: Tehsil council, Mastuj, nazim Maulana Mohammad Yousuf presented Rs3.99 million budget of the council here on Wednesday which was later passed unanimously by the house in the same sitting chaired by its convener Fakhruddin.

Maulana Yousuf said that the expected income of the TMA was Rs137 million against the projected expenditure of Rs141 million. He said that in the absence of local sources of income and revenue, the Mastuj TMA was heavily dependent on the provincial government for its development projects and carrying out municipal duties.

Meanwhile, Chitral Chamber of Commerce president Mohammad Khan criticised both the federal and provincial governments for ignoring the local businessmen in licencing and leasing process.

Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, he alleged that officials of the mineral development department of the province and Pakistan State Oil were discriminating against the local businessmen in award of leases and licences.

Mr Khan claimed that the relevant authorities were trying to maintain hegemony of an outsider group in Chitral in the fields of mining and dealership of oil and gas.

Published in Dawn, September 1st, 2016