HARIPUR, Jan 30: Sarhad Rural Support Programme (SRSP), Haripur Chapter, has launched 15 development projects at a cost of Rs5.2 million in two union councils of district Haripur.

They include union council Tofkian and union council Najafpur, ecologically the most picturesque but economically most backward ones having remote locations. The local communities themselves according to their needs in sanitation and public health sectors will execute the projects and complete them in the next four months. Preparation of feasibility report for launching similar projects in union council Barila, was also in progress.

The district Nazim, Haripur, had identified all of the three union councils for launching of such schemes aimed at poverty alleviation and socio-economic uplift. Out of Rs5.2 millions first instillment of Rs0.5m was disbursed by the SRSP to the local people during public gatherings held at Tofkian and Dartian, Najafpur here the other day.

Raja Amer Zaman, district Nazim Haripur, who was the chief guest on this occasion, handed over the cheques to the representatives of different local rural development organizations. Among others who attended the function were, Jaffar Shah, divisional head of SRSP, Dr Asghar Ali, SRSP’s head of Haripur Chapter, Nazims of both the union councils, councillors and office-bearers of the participatory communities’ bodies.

Mr Zaman announced that a black topped road from Najafpur to Dartian would be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs14ms.

This scheme will be sponsored by the district council while PC-1 has already been prepared, he told, adding that priority was also being accorded to uplift of certain remote union councils of Tehsil Ghazi. Appreciating SRSP role for supporting the district government in its rural development scheme the district Nazim assured his full cooperation to help SRSP achieve the goals.