The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has proposed eight new projects worth Rs1.35 billion in the annual development program for religious minorities.
The projects include sanitation and water supply schemes in residential colonies, provision of uniforms, books and scholarships for missionary school students. The officials said that four projects worth Rs1 billion for settled districts and four projects worth Rs350 million have been proposed for tribal districts.
According to Wazirzada, Special Assistant to Chief Minister for Minority Affairs, consultations are underway with the minority community on newly proposed projects for the minority community for the next financial year. After completion of all consultations, all the projects will be sent to the Chief Minister KP for final approval.
Regarding the development budget of minorities, Wazirzada also held a meeting with a delegation of minorities yesterday. Member Provincial Assembly Ravi Kumar also attended the meeting. The delegation included members of Women’s Commission Mala Kumari, Malalai Akhtar, Subhash Chandra, Sahib Singh, Dilraj, Nina. Others included Samson and Shivaram
The Special Assistant to the Chief Minister informed the delegation that eight new projects have been proposed for the financial year 2020-21 including the construction of community centers in the settled districts, improvement of sanitation and sewerage system and rehabilitation of places of worship. Rs200 million has been proposed for the celebrations of different religious events, Rs200 million for missionary school teachers’ grants including financial assistance to religious leaders, financial aid to students, uniforms, and books, and Rs200 million for the welfare package for minorities.
Similarly, Rs200 million has been proposed for the construction of community centers, improvement of sanitation and sewage system, and rehabilitation of places of worship for tribal areas. Rs50 million has been proposed for religious festivals, financial assistance to religious leaders, financial assistance to students. Besides this, a plan of Rs50 million has been proposed to provide a special grant to teachers of missionary schools and Rs50 million for the welfare of religious minorities.
