DLP Report
PESHAWAR
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi held a meeting with World Food Programme (WFP) Country Director Anita Hirsh at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House, Islamabad, on Monday, according to a statement issued by the CM Secretariat.
The statement said that the discussions focused on food security, climate change, nutrition and strengthening cooperation between the provincial government and the international organisation.
The meeting also covered issues related to internally displaced persons (IDPs) and explored ways to expand strategic collaboration in priority sectors.
Speaking during the meeting, Chief Minister Afridi said the Chashma Right Bank Lift Canal Project was crucial for bringing around 295,000 acres of land under cultivation, improving agricultural productivity and strengthening food security in the province.
He said the provincial government had been allocating funds for the project through its Annual Development Programme (ADP), but the federal government had yet to provide its committed share of financing.
The chief minister said KP was making significant investments in irrigation canals, tube wells and other agricultural initiatives aimed at improving food production and reducing food insecurity.
He also highlighted the provincial government’s efforts in afforestation and forest conservation, saying that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has more than 45 per cent of Pakistan’s forests, with forest cover spread over approximately 26 per cent of the province’s total land area.
Discussing the impact of climate change, the chief minister said flash floods and cloudburst incidents in mountainous areas had caused extensive damage to livelihoods, infrastructure and local economies.
He informed the WFP delegation that the provincial government had distributed more than Rs15 billion in compensation among flood-affected families in Buner, Shangla, Swat and Bajaur. He stressed the need for greater investment in green climate initiatives and early warning systems to improve resilience against natural disasters.
The chief minister also highlighted the consequences of prolonged militancy in the merged districts, saying that terrorism had caused severe losses to infrastructure and local economies. He added that districts dependent on cross-border trade continued to face economic difficulties due to border restrictions.
Referring to the situation in Tirah, he said around 24,000 families had been displaced, while access to livelihoods, healthcare and education remained major challenges.
Afridi said the federal government had committed Rs17 billion for temporarily displaced persons (TDPs) from the merged districts, but the promised funds had not yet been released. He added that despite limited federal support, the provincial government continued to allocate resources for humanitarian assistance and essential services for displaced communities.
WFP Country Director Anita Hirsh reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to working closely with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to improve food security, enhance nutrition outcomes and strengthen climate resilience across the province.
Both sides agreed to further enhance cooperation and continue joint efforts in areas of mutual interest.
