Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Neil Buhne, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Pakistan has said that poverty is on the rise in Sindh province and the UN is trying to improve the lives of the people by extending them opportunities.

He was addressing the closing ceremony of a booklet launching , based on inspiring stories from this project titled “Rebuilding Flood Affected Farmers’ Communities: Inspirational Human Stories”.

Neil Buhne said that one UN Project, ‘Livelihood Restoration, Protection and Sustainable Empowerment of Vulnerable Peasant Communities in Sindh Province” was quite beneficial for the people of the province.

He said during the floods of 2010-11 more than 10 million people were affected in Sindh which also led to an increase of poverty in the province.

He said that in the recently released multiple poverty index of the Government of Pakistan, the province of Sindh is among the highest poverty-ridden areas of the country. Through the 2030 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agenda, the UN will reach those areas which were earlier ignored. He said the UN was looking forward to work with the people and the government of Sindh.

Ingrid Christensen, Country Director, International Labour Organization (ILO) said one UN project was launched in 2013 for livelihood and skill development in Mirpurkhas and Dadu districts of Sindh. “I went to the field to meet with beneficiaries and was quite satisfied”, she added.

She said the project improved the human security of families of the beneficiaries and it was inspiring to see how the beneficiaries of the project were contributing to each other’s lives after being empowered as a result of this project.

Patrick Evans, Representative Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) highlighted the FAO’s farm activities during the project.

He said the project would leave a greater impact on the people regarding farm productivity and gender equality. “We also introduced water conservation and more production and through it farmers are benefiting a lot” he said.

He said the project helped improve agriculture production, irrigation systems and soil management.

Sangeeta RanaThapa, Deputy Country Representative said the project improved women’s role in household and community level decision making and had improved their access to national identity cards. She also termed the land tenancy agreements for landless men and women farmers as a landmark achievement.

Altaf Bijarani, Secretary planning and development government of Sindh said that Sindh province was at the tail end of the Indus river system and some time ago it was prone to flood and at other times drought. Due to continued floods of 2010-11 followed by drought in some areas of Southern Sindh, the province”s economy was badly affected. Its effects remained for a long time. He thanked the UN for providing some projects for the betterment of the livelihood of the affected areas of the province. He announced Sindh government’s full-fledged support for the projects in future.

This three year project was jointly implemented by FAO, ILO and UN Women in Dadu and Mirpur Khas districts. The project was steered by the Planning & Development Department, Government of Sindh.