GILGIT: The Gilgit-Baltistan Planning and Development Department (P&DD) distributed power tiller machines to communities living in glacier lake outburst-prone areas across Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) under the glacial lake outburst flooding (GLOF-II) project.

The GB Department of Planning and Development, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has provided power tiller machines to their targeted communities under the GLOF-II project across GB.

The distribution ceremony was organised in Gilgit, and GB Additional Chief Secretary (Dev) Captain (Retd) Mushtaq Ahmad distributed these machines among the community-based disaster risk management committees of the selected valleys under the GLOF project.

Speaking at the occasion, Mr Ahmad emphasised the role of power tiller machines in facilitating farming activities such as ploughing, cultivation, and transportation of goods.

He noted that the use of these machines could enhance agricultural productivity and save time for farmers.

Mr Ahmed also urged the importance of the GLOF-II project in mitigating the effects of climate change and promoting agriculture in disaster-prone areas.

Coordinator GLOF-II at UNDP Pakistan, Abdul Basit, briefed about the collaboration between UNDP and the Department of Planning and Development for providing training in modern farming and horticulture to local communities in sixteen valleys of Gilgit-Baltistan under the GLOF project.

The objective is to promote local agriculture and improve livelihoods by enhancing agricultural productivity at the grassroots level.

Published in Dawn, March 14th, 2024