Development With Community Participation, CDLD Program Extended To Swabi

Minister for Local Government Shahram Tarakai Wednesday said the extension of the Community-Driven Local Development (CDLD) Program to more districts in the province proves the commitment of PTI government towards grassroots local development

SWABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 30th Jan, 2019 ) :Minister for Local Government Shahram Tarakai Wednesday said the extension of the Community-Driven Local Development (CDLD) Program to more districts in the province proves the commitment of PTI government towards grassroots local development.

He stated this during the inauguration ceremony of the CDLD Program in district Swabi. The program with its focus on sustainable development through active community participation had changed the course of local governance in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Following months of consultations and arrangements by the district administration in Swabi, the groundwork has been completed for the extension of CDLD Program.

During the inauguration ceremony, Deputy Commissioner Swabi, Salman Lodhi apprised the participants that during the financial year 2018-19, a sum of Rs 138 million has been allocated for about 102 community projects to be approved within the different sectors prioritized by the communities themselves.

The inauguration ceremony was organised by the Deputy Commissioner Swabi with the technical and assistance of the CDLD Program to formally initiate the implementation of the provincial government's flagship program in Swabi.

The achievements of the provincial government in terms of the implementation of the CDLD Program were presented and acknowledged by the elected members and government officials during the ceremony.

In his concluding remarks, CDLD Program District Coordinator Swabi, Hammad Ahmed appreciated and credited the district administration and district government officials for their contributions. He further informed the participants that more than 4,000 projects, worth around Rs 5 billion, were being implemented so far by local communities in a wide range of prioritized sectors in the different districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Under the CDLD Program, 19 percent of the total budget would go to women specific projects, while 6 percent of total budget has been reserved for livelihood development projects, besides major allocations for community infrastructure projects. Relying on the decentralized local government system, government officials and elected representatives have been assigned key roles to integrate the CDLD approach in development planning at the village council level.

The European Union and Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will be jointly contributing Rupees 9.9 billion in a phased manner until 2020 to sustain the implementation of CDLD Program in the 12 districts of the province.

These districts include Battagram, Buner, Chitral, Dir Lower, Dir Upper, Haripur, Malakand, Nowshera, Shangla, Swabi, Swat and Torghar. After the phase out in 2020, the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will ensure the programs continuation.