PESHAWAR, May 7: The Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC) will spend 19.9 million Swiss francs annually in Pakistan on programmes pertaining to natural resource management, governance and human rights.

Addressing a function held here to commemorate 40 years of SDC’s services in Pakistan, the head of the agency’s South Asia division, Christoph Graf, said the SDC would continue its poverty reduction programme in the NWFP.

Mr Graf said the Swiss agency started its activities in Pakistan in 1966 following an agreement signed between the two governments on technical and scientific cooperation.

He said the agency had been currently working for promotion of small and medium enterprises, natural resource management, governance and human rights.

He said the longstanding cooperation had contributed to development in Pakistan.

Speaking on the occasion, NWFP’s senior minister Sirajul Haq said the government appreciated contribution of donor agencies and non-governmental organisations to development. He, however, said that donors and their local stakeholders should respect social and cultural sensitivities.

SWISS MUSICIANS: Meanwhile, a music programme was held to celebrate 40 years of SDC’s services in the country at a local hotel on Sunday.

A group of Swiss musicians playing western instruments added to the beauty of sufi songs rendered by vocalist Shafqat Ali Khan.

Percussionist Reto Weber, guitarist Roman Nowka and Samuel Kuehni gave music to the Punjabi and Seraiki mystic poetry of Baba Bulay Shah, Waris Shah and other sufi poets enthralling the audience by innovatively mixing with tabla and other local instruments.

On the occasion, Swiss group leader Reto Weber introduced an instrument called ‘Hang’. The instrument, which Weber said had been invented by him, looked like the traditional instrument of ghara and is made of two metals fixed with each other and shaped as ball.