CHITRAL: The Sarhad Rural Support Programme has set up a business centre in Arandu village here to promote regional trade with Afghanistan and handed it over to the local community for management.

SRSP chief executive officer Shahzada Masoodul Mulk, Pakistan Army area commander Lt-Colonel Farooq and Drosh assistant commissioner Abdul Haq attended the inaugural ceremony.

Mr Mulk said the centre put up with the German financial assistance and the active support of Pakistan Army and district administration would help promote trade in the region for the people’s development.

He said his organisation had built roads, suspension bridges and schools under the German-funded Pakistan-Afghanistan-Tajikistan Regional Integration Project.

Community leader Haji Mohammad Sultan said he hoped that the initiative would boost trade with Afghanistan to generate employment and economic activity in the region.

He said the business centre would become functional after the opening of the border with Afghanistan.

CULTIVATION: Director general (soil conservation) Yasin Khan has said his department is bringing more and more area under cultivation in hilly areas, including Chitral, through efforts against soil erosion, reclamation of flood-hit land, and levelling of land.

Addressing a function of farmers in Garam Chashama area of Lower Chitral district on Saturday, the DG said an acute shortage of irrigation water was a major hurdle to the growth of agricultural sector in the region.

He said small dams and water channels were being built to turn hundreds of hectares of land arable; watercourses had been lined in several villages to reduce the waste of water, and new methods of rainwater harvesting were being introduced.

Mr Yasin said the active community participation was ensured in the execution of all projects, including the complete utilisation of funds.

PROMOTED: Seven personnel of Levies Force in Upper Chitral district have been promoted.

During a special ceremony here on Thursday, deputy commissioner Mohammad Ali, who is also the commandant of the force, pinned badges on the shoulders of promoted personnel, including subedar Abdur Rahman, naib-subedar Shahabuddin, havaldar Mohammad Nayab, naik Burhanuddin and lance naiks Shamsur Rahman, Majeedul Haq and Mohammad Hussain.

Published in Dawn, December 7th, 2021