PESHAWAR: In a bid to continue to combat poppy growth, the United States has given seven pickup trucks to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, which will be used to implement crop control and related development projects in the tribal districts of Bajaur, Mohmand and Khyber.

The donation is part of an overall Rs589 million ($5.1 million) donation to the provincial government to combat poppy cultivation in the merged areas.

Over the past three decades, Pakistan has reduced poppy cultivation by 87 per cent in partnership with the United States.

Joint secretary of the ministry of narcotics control, Sabino Sikandar Jalal and KP’s director general projects, merged area secretariat, Khalid Ilyas were present in the handing over ceremony.

The assistance underscores the American government’s long history of partnership with Pakistan in its mission to combat poppy growth. Over the past 37 years, the US has invested $60 million in Pakistani efforts to support rural communities in developing economic alternatives to narcotics production; expanding legal employment opportunities, especially for women; providing training in sustainable farming techniques; constructing roads that extend the writ of the government and providing farm-to-market access; and constructing small water supply projects that increase the viability of growing alternative crops.

On the occasion, Deputy Chief of Mission John Hoover said: “We are proud to continue our longstanding partnership with the KP government and former Fata secretariat, which has resulted in a significant decrease in poppy cultivation, ultimately benefitting the people of KP and the rest of Pakistan.”

Published in Dawn, April 20th, 2019