ISLAMABAD: The Sindh and Balochistan governments have pledged their support for the implementation of European Union-funded Growth for Rural Advancement and Sustainable Progress project aimed at increasing agricultural productivity in selected districts of the two provinces.

At the two-day meeting of the GRASP Steering Committee which concluded on Friday, the provincial governments acknowledged the rapid response by the GRASP team on mitigating the effects of Covid-19 on small and medium enterprises in Sindh and Balochistan.

The project being implemented by the Geneva-based International Trade Centre (ITC), GRASP will work to increase economic opportunity and contribute to sustainability of small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Additional Chief Secretary of Planning and Development Department of Balochistan, Abdul Rehman Buzdar and Chairman of Planning and Development Department of Sindh Muhammad Waseem chaired meetings for their respective provinces.

They expressed their gratitude to the EU for their ongoing support to uplift the horticulture and livestock sectors in their provinces, which is the main source of livelihood for many.

They pledged their support to GRASP for the implementation of activities, and its work on policy development, bringing a positive change in the lives of farmers and SMEs, while creating jobs in the country.

Published in Dawn, November 28th, 2020