QUETTA: A water resou­r­ce rehabilitation program­­me, which will receive 40 million euros in European Union (EU) funding, will resolve water resource management issues in Balochistan.

This was stated by Food and Agriculture Organisa­tion’s (FAO) country representative for Pakistan Rebekah Bell during a meeting with Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan here on Tuesday. They discussed issues related to different programmes being run in the province with the assistance of the United Nations agency.

Ms Bell said the programme aimed to reduce poverty in the rural areas through sustainable development of low water-depe­ndent agricultural economy, livestock sector and related small businesses.

“The programme will also help empower women socio-economically and tackle harmful effects of climate change,” she said.

Additional Chief Secret­ary of Planning and Deve­lopment Abdul Saboor Ka­­kar, Public Health Engi­nee­ring Secretary Saleh Moh­a­mmad Nasir and other officials were present in the meeting.

The meeting was briefed on the programmes being completed in collaboration with the Australian government, as well as new programmes to be sponsored by the EU to provide assistance in restoration of water resources in Balochistan.

Ms Bell informed the chief minister that the FAO’s Agri Business Prog­ramme had been successfully completed in Baloch­istan with the support of the Australian government.

“Under this programme, more than 23,000 households in six districts of the province have been provided water, food and economic assistance,” she said.

Published in Dawn, December 23rd, 2020