PESHAWAR, Jan 30: The European Union will provide euro 80 million to improve governance and ensure community development in Malakand division.

This was announced by the EU Ambassador to Pakistan Lars Gunner while speaking at a daylong information dissemination workshop held here on Wednesday. He said the programme would serve the larger interest of the people of the militancy affected areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, according to an official handout.

The programme would include €64 million as budgetary support and €7.5 million for social mobilisation in Malakand division. Besides, €7.3 million would be provided for building capacity of the government departments and another €1.2 million would be extended for monitoring and evaluation and improving government’s audit system.Senior government officials, provincial ministers, members of the provincial assembly from Malakand division, and visiting members of the EU delegations attended the workshop.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Finance Mohammad Humayun Khan said the programme was of great significance to the conflict affected Malakand division, adding the EU effort would help mitigate the adverse effects of militancy in the restive area.

He asked the district administrations in Malakand division to take advantage of the project, adding the monitory support should be utilised in the best interest of the people by ensuring transparency.