CDLD programme extended to six more districts
He said the Community Driven Local Development (CDLD) programme had been launched in six most backward districts of Malakand division in collaboration with the European Union (EU) in 2014 to improve road infrastructure and municipal services that yielded positive results. Hence, he said, this programme was being extended to six more districts of the province: Kohistan, Battagram, Torghar, Buner, Haripur and Nowshera to develop the infrastructure and ameliorate lot of common people there too. He was speaking at a ceremony held to launch the the extension of the CDLD programme to the six districts at a hotel in Peshawar. The ceremony was also addressed by EU Ambassador Jean-Francois Cautain, team leader CDLD Brian Fawcett, Secretary Planning & Development Zahir Shah Khan and others who highlighted the people friendly and transparent policies and reforms of the provincial government. Besides Senior Minister for Local Government Inayatullah, Secretary Syed Jamaluddin Shah, District Nazims and senior officers of the concerned 12 districts, the function was attended by EU delegates, LG representatives and people from cross section of life. The EU provided 64 million Euros against the provincial government funding of Rs4.7 billion for the first phase and has committed additional funds of 34.4 million Euros while the provincial government has committed Rs5.981 billion for the second phase. As many as 1,457 developmental projects were completed and over 3.7 million people benefited in the first phase while the second phase will also greatly help in gearing up the pace of development in the newly selected six districts of the province. The chief minister said it is heartening that the first phase of CDLD programme was successfully implemented in six districts of Malakand Division and based on that successful implementation the programme is now extended to six more districts. He said the programme would then cover almost half of the backward areas of the province. For that, he congratulated the local government department, district government officials, and the district governments for playing their role effectively. He also appreciated the contribution of human dynamics, as key implementing partner of the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Mr Khattak acknowledged that CDLD greatly helped in empowering people at all levels. It ensured increased participation of citizens in planning and execution of development schemes in their areas, he said, adding it is encouraging to know that the community members represented by their own community based organizations are taking full part at all the stages of project management. He said the process has enabled us to achieve the strategic objective of bringing the citizens and government closer.]]>