Forging alliances: Aid agencies, countries partner up with K-P to improve social sector

The long-term relationship will include financial support for education, energy, agriculture, among other sectors.

PESHAWAR: Developed countries and aid agencies have come forward as ‘long-term partners’ of the provincial government with the singular aim to develop the social sector.

According to a handout issued by the government on Wednesday, international donor agencies assured the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government of their cooperation through financial aid for the social sector at a conference-cum-consultative meeting at Pakhtunkhwa House in Islamabad.



Representatives of donors present at the meeting included AusAid, DFID, Embassy of Germany, GIZ, Embassy of Japan, JICA, Norway, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, USAID, Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC), European Union and CIDA.

“Lauding the agenda of transparency being introduced in K-P, aid agencies announced long-term partnerships with the provincial government. This entails prompt financial assistance for improving social sectors including health, education, energy, agriculture, local government, forestry, potable water and social justice,” read the handout.

K-P Chief Minister Pervez Khattak chaired the meeting during which the mutually devised Strategic Development Partnership Framework (SDPF) was elaborated upon.

The development highlights the autonomy of the provinces to build direct relationships with the global community under the 18th Constitutional Amendment.

Khattak thanked the donors for their encouraging move and assured them the government would make its ‘agenda of change’ a success.

Legislation aiming at reforms – such as the Right to Information Ordinance, Accountability Commission and Local Government system – were steps aimed to provide the public with basic accessible facilities, pointed out Khattak.

Senior ministers Sirajul Haq, Sikandar Sherpao and Minister for Agriculture Shahram Khan Tarakai appreciated the donors’ support, stating it would help reform important social sectors. The CM had earlier defined those as health, education, urban development, technical education, and energy and power.

The economic affairs division secretary, representing the federal government, also appreciated the new partnership with the K-P government, terming it ‘exemplary for the country’.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 3^rd, 2013.