PESHAWAR: Three-day celebrations marking the completion of 40 years of Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) in Chitral started on Tuesday with the theme of “40 years of localism and local development”.

Civil society representatives from Lower and Upper Chitral districts are participating in these celebrations in large numbers.

According to a statement issued here, Lower Chitral deputy commissioner Anwarul Haq addressed the inaugural ceremony.

He said AKRSP was the only NGO which was doing more than any other organisation in the region for empowering the community and contributing to achieving the goal of sustainable development.

He congratulated the institution on completing 40 years and appreciated its prominent role in Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral.

Earlier, the programme’s regional manager Akhtar Ali explained the objectives of the anniversary celebrations.

Reading out the message of AKRSP general manager Jameeluddin, he said 40 years of exemplary community service would not have been possible without the support of local communities.

“Since its inception, AKRSP has trained 1,263,000 men and women in various technical and professional fields and completed 4,706 community infrastructure projects, benefiting 383,421 households,” he said.

In another session, Lower Chitral district police officer Nasir Mehmood was the chief guest while the community was represented by former district council chairman Khurshid Ali Khan and others.

On this occasion, the AKRSP’s role in removing backwardness, pioneering new ideas of rural development and organising the community on a sustainable basis in Chitral was highlighted.

A photo exhibition is also under way, which highlights the organisation’s achievements in various fields, including climate resilience, agriculture and food security and others.

Around 27 stalls of traditional clothing, herbs, precious stones, musical instruments, food items and dry fruits were also set up on the occasion.

Published in Dawn, November 23rd, 2022