KARACHI, Nov 27: The project implementation and coordination committee of the National Urban Poverty Alleviation Programme of the UNDP and Sindh government in its meeting has approved inclusion of four more cities (urban slum areas) of Thatta, Dadu, Qambar and Sanghar for future intervention in 2006.

According to a handout issued here on Sunday, the National Urban Poverty Alleviation Programme (NUPAP) has been already working in Jacobabad since March 2005 while in Mithi it will start form the next month.

The meeting, chaired by Additional Chief Secretary Development Ghulam Sarwar Khero, appreciated social mobilization, micro-credit and work of infrastructure schemes currently going on in Jacobabad.

The UNDP with the support of Sindh government had initiated the NUPAP in 2004.

Under the programme, two main areas of focus are social mobilization and empowerment of poor communities (especially women) through low-coast self-help local initiatives supporting income generation and improving local conditions.

In Jacobabad, 16 male and female CCBs have been formed. Work on first physical infrastructure scheme has been completed in UC-6 of Jacobabad. Development activities in Mithi will begin next month. Activities in other districts would begin in a phased manner according to the availability of funds. —APP