Development in Swat: ‘Small businesses add to employment’

Danish counsellor visits valley to monitor development activities.

MINGORA: The Danish government will continue to help conflict zones of Pakistan, to bring normalcy in the region, said Royal Danish Embassy Islamabad Counsellor for Development Darriann Riber on Wednesday.

While speaking to the media about development projects under way in the valley, Riber said she was visiting Swat for the first time with a team to observe development activities undertaken with the support of the Danish government.

“Since Swat has been affected by both man-made and natural disasters, people are facing a lot of problems and many issues need to be addressed. We have selected Swat and other conflict areas in K-P, Fata and Balochistan to provide financial and development support,” said Riber.

According to Riber, the team looked into some of the small businesses that had received support from the Multi Donor Trust Fund. “We visited some marble industries, flour mills, textile factories and it was really interesting to see how they rehabilitated their respective industries with the grant. They even managed to employ more people,” she said.

About Denmark’s efforts for education, Riber said, “We are supporting the rehabilitation of destroyed schools through various partners.” She added they would be focusing on teacher training, increasing enrolment and the provision of facilities in schools as well.

“We are very happy to see the grants we provided to various small industries here have made a tangible difference in communities. They have been able to rehabilitate their businesses and have revived their livelihood,” added Riber.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, November 27^th, 2014.