PESHAWAR, April 19: Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Smeda), an implementing partner of UNDP-funded ‘early recovery and restoration of flood-affected communities programme’, distributed cheques amounting to Rs2.4 million among the flood-affected small vendors and farmers in Mian Gujar area of Peshawar district on Thursday.

The grant has been extended to over 80 owners of small business enterprises to revive economic activities in their respective localities.

National programme manager of Smeda, Sultan Tiwana, provincial coordinator Ms Noor Zeba, members of village advisory committee and beneficiaries of the project were present on the occasion.

Ms Zeba said that they had organised several training programmes and awareness sessions under the project as per proposals of the people of flood-hit areas. She claimed that the grant had been extended following a proper scrutiny process.

Mr Tiwana urged the beneficiaries to use the grant in a proper way to revive their flood-hit businesses. He suggested that different committees should be formed on agriculture, livestock, handicraft and other skill development works to get new ideas for development of businesses.

“We would extend maximum financial assistance for economic development of Charsadda district,” he said. However, he added, that this would be done if the existing beneficiaries produced positive results in successfully reviving their businesses.