The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) held the second steering committee meeting of the Project for Assistance to Recovery and Development of Agricultural Economy in FATA on May 9 in Islamabad.
Ms. Anjum Assad Amin, Additional Secretary Economic Affairs Division (EAD), Muhammad Tahir, Deputy Secretary EAD, Mr. Yousaf Rahim, Additional Secretary Planning and Development FATA Secretariat, Ms. Junko Kawata Economic Researcher/Adviser Embassy of Japan, Mr. Ken Kato Senior Representative Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Mr. Patrick T Evans, FAO Representative in Pakistan, participated among others in the meeting.
Welcoming the participants Mr. Patrick T Evans, FAO Representative said the government is working to have all Temporarily Displaced Persons (TDPs) from FATA back to their homes by the end of this year. This adds to our responsibility to support these efforts. He also said the main focus was to rebuild the lives of the TDPs. It is crucial to provide timely inputs such as fodder, animal health, fruit tree nursery establishment, fisheries and developing irrigation systems etc. This would not only help in putting their lives together but also improve overall economy in FATA.

Mr. Raffaele DelCima Program Manager, FAO gave a detailed presentation on the progress of the project in Khyber and Kurram Agencies. He briefed participants on agriculture input support, planned distribution of fodder, agricultural packages, water courses and harvesting structures, irrigation and capacity development initiatives.

Additional Secretary Planning and Development Mr. Yousaf Rahim appreciated the support of FAO. He also said that since Orakzai agency had also been opened for TDPs’ returns.

In her concluding remarks, Ms. Anjum Assad Amin, Additional Secretary Economic Affairs Division (EAD), said this project is instrumental in ensuring timely return and rehabilitation of TDPs from FATA. She also praised the efforts of FAO, JICA, political agents and FATA and KP authorities in this regard.

It was agreed that the next steering committee meeting would be held after three months.

Background
The Project for Assistance to the Recovery and Development of the Agricultural Economy in FATA began in July 2015.

The Government of Pakistan plans in 2015/16 the return and resettlement of some 30 000 currently displaced families to Kurram Agency, and another 85 000 families to Khyber agency.
Working closely with the FATA government line departments, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the beneficiary communities, and other organizations working in the same area, the project is designed to directly benefit some 26 000 households in Khyber and Kurram agencies.