ISLAMABAD, Sept 5: The national commission for human development (NCHD) has launched its programme focussing primary health care, universal primary education, adult literacy and skills training.

NCHD Chairman Nasim Ashraf told reporters on Thursday that the commission had initiated its programme in Mardan.

He said the commission’s plan of action spanned 10 years and 16 districts would be covered in the first phase of three years. The districts are: Bajaur Agency, Mardan, Mansehra, and Kirk in NWFP; Attock, Rahimyar Khan, Layyah and Narowal in Punjab; Ghotki, Jaccobabad, Naushero Feroz and Badin in Sindh and Chaghai, Gwadar, Mastoong and Zhob in Balochistan.

He said resources would be mobilized through Pakistan Human Development Fund. “The fund is supported by an initial grant of $32 million by the government while a seed capital of $2.5 million has been donated by expatriate and local philanthropists,” he said.

President Gen Pervez Musharraf, Abdul Sattar Edhi, Princes Sarvath El Hassan, former Prime minister Moeen Qureshi and Jemima Khan are patrons of the commission, he said.

He said Pakistan ranked 124th in the human development index out of 172 countries.

He said the NCHD objectives included capacity building, training and enhancement of competency of government agencies and NGOs to achieve universal primary education and promote literacy.

The objectives also include, he said, poverty alleviation and promotion of sustainable livelihood.

He said the NCHD would assist the implementation of the devolution plan in social services delivery, maximize public-private partnerships, fill the gaps to achieve education and health for all, leverage the potential of volunteers and mobilize resources for human development.

He said that the first district human development support unit had been launched in Mardan where the community members were demonstrating a voluntary spirit.

“This spirit was highlighted when the volunteers undertook relief activities following the floods that hit Mardan last month,” the chairman said.

About the NCHD volunteer programme, he said a national volunteer corps of 100,000 people would be formed to support activities in social sector interventions at a grassroots level.

The corps will comprise retired services men, youth, housewives and expatriates.