ISLAMABAD, Nov 13: The Asian Development Bank has approved a technical assistance grant worth $750,000 to assist the preparation of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas’ Rural Development Project during 2003.

According to ADB local office, FATA is among the most impoverished regions of Pakistan characterized by high levels of endemic and pervasive poverty.

The government estimates show that as much as 60 per cent of FATA households live below the poverty line. The region’s literacy rate of 17 per cent and primary school participation rate of 41 per cent are also significantly lower than the corresponding national averages.

The ADB’s technical assistance will provide support for the government’s FATA development strategy through assistance in the preparation of a project for reducing the incidence of poverty in FATA and promoting livelihoods among the local population through a mix of economic and social interventions.

Elaborating on its scope, M. Ali Shah, Country Director for ADB, stated that the technical assistance will assess and propose approaches to strengthen agricultural extension and applied research systems that are more responsive to farmers’ needs, including improved extension to reach women; propose interventions related to harvesting of water, and community-based small irrigation structures to improve the conservation of water; propose interventions for improved watershed management, assess farm and non-farm economic opportunities for increased income generation.