PESHAWAR, July 13: The provincial government has provided auto-rickshaws to widows belonging to different areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to earn livelihood and support their families.

The auto-rickshaws were given to widows by provincial social welfare and women development department with assistance of Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA).

The keys and documents of auto-rickshaw were handed to the women at a ceremony, said a press release issued here on Wednesday.

Addressing the ceremony, Provincial Minister for Social Welfare and Women Development Sitara Ayaz said that Turkey had always extended help and support to the people of Pakistan.

Elif Turk Oglu, programme coordinator of TIKA, and deputy programme coordinator Cahit Asil were also present on the occasion.

Appreciating the cooperation of TIKA in different projects in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa , the minister said the agency would soon start work on many schemes including reconstruction of district headquarter hospital in Swabi, construction of two schools in Pir Sabaq and different water supply projects in Swabi. The TIKA will also provide Ramazan package to the province.

Speaking on the occasion, Ms Oglu said that Turkey and Pakistan had stable relations. She said that she felt immense pleasure to see goodwill gesture from the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Ms Oglu said that with the provision of auto-rickshaws, the widows would be in a better position to earn their livelihood. She said that TIKA had started work on various schemes 18 months ago. “Now wee feel that we should have started the service earlier,” she said, adding they would extend all possible help for the wellbeing of the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.— Bureau Report