PESHAWAR: Ambassador of Switzerland to Pakistan Thomas Kolly said here on Wednesday that the Swiss government would wind up its aid programmes for Pakistan by the end of current year.

Ambassador Kolly visited the provincial capital and met Governor Shah Farman and attended a function organised by the Water and Sanitation Services Peshawar (WSSP) at the Civil Officers Mess. He was accompanied by Mannual Beffler, the head of humanitarian aid.

Talking to Dawn on this occasion, he said Swiss government was diverting its aid programmes to mostly fragile countries. “Since Pakistan has moved up economically, therefore, Swiss aid programmes in the country would wind up by the current year,” he added.

Mr Beffler in his remarks said that the security situation of the city had improved a great deal as foreigners were not advised to visit it a couple of years ago. He said that they explored a bit of city’s rich history.

Asmara Rahat, WSSP focal person for Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation Programes, told Dawn that the aid agency was providing Rs176 million support to sanitation companies in Peshawar and Mardan.

She said that the funding was being used for at least six types of soft activities including preparation of Peshawar integrated water plan, community awareness, capacity building, IT-based consumer registration and ending illegal connections.

On this occasion, the local government secretary, Zahir Shah, thanked the Swiss envoys for their contribution in the development of the province.

He also presented the visiting delegation with presents of traditional Chitrali cap, Chugha and Peshawari Chappal.

Published in Dawn, June 27th, 2019