Peshawar
To mark the 70th anniversary of bilateral relations and 60th anniversary of development cooperation between Pakistan and Germany, GIZ Pakistan launched a photo exhibition on the Merged Areas, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at Peshawar Museum. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Health and Finance Taimur Saleem Khan Jhagra attended the event as a chief guest.
Chief guest Mr. Taimur Saleem Khan Jhagra, Minister Finance and Health, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, inaugurated the exhibition with attendance of representatives of the German Embassy, GIZ and officials of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In his remarks, the Minister said that it’s a proud moment for Peshawar Museum; let this exhibition be an opening door of Museum for public. International celebrities have appreciated Peshawar Museum; world travellers are now travelling to Peshawar and PTI Government has improved face of Peshawar and KP with projects like the famous Gor Gathri, Mahabat Khan Mosque renovation, Takhtbhai in Mardan.
He mentioned that the KP Government has renovated the historical sites including the house of famous actor, Mr. Dilip Kumar (late), which has now been opened for public. The minister also directed the KP Archaeology to hold more exhibitions in the museum and to present the rich culture and heritage of the province and merged districts to the world.
While addressing the gathering Jhagra added that sixty billion allocated for developmental projects of newly merged districts. If other provinces contribute the promised amount this allocation will reach 100 billion this year. Five Billion rupees have been allocated in the current fiscal year to improve and upgrade basic health units in Erstwhile Fata.
Taimur furthered that for the very first time in the history the people of NMDs have been provided the free medical facilities under Sehat Card Scheme. This facility would be upgraded to Sehat Card plus from first January 2022. Talking about the event minister for health and finance said Peshawar is one of oldest living city. He invited tourists to promote cultural tourism of Peshawar.
The photo exhibition gives an insight into this remote region that in 2018 has been merged into the Province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The exhibition depicts the local people following their trades, earning their livelihoods, and struggling to provide their children with a better future. They also show an emerging local governance system, community development initiatives, and improvements in the education and heath sectors.
The photo exhibition will continue till 12th December 2021 at the Peshawar Museum to mark the celebrations.
Dr. Deichmann, Chargé affair of the German Embassy in Islamabad, highlighted that with decades long friendly and trustful political, economic and cultural ties, the development cooperation between Germany and Pakistan have been continuously adjusted in line with new challenges and changing social, economic and political frameworks. To date, Germany has invested around 3.5 billion Euros in its development partnership with Pakistan, he added.
Dr. Abdul Samad, Director, Archaeology & Museums, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa welcome the guests and expressed the photo exhibition on Merged Areas, a moment of great pleasure for the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums to host it. He said that there is huge potential for promoting academic research, cultural tourism and awareness-raising among the public on the importance of cultural heritage.
In her closing remarks, Ms. Stoyanka Stich, Cluster Coordinator at GIZ Pakistan confirmed GIZ commitment to promote local governance reform process in the country including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. She further stated that GIZ is working with the provincial and local governments to promote an efficient, transparent and participatory approach focused on strengthening institutional capacity and improved governance in health and education for better service delivery to the local people in Merged Areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
From governance to energy and climate change, the two countries have embarked on countless development initiatives including the FATA Development Programme, a flagship programme since 2009 is aimed to improve living conditions and work with government partners to improve public service delivery in the fields of health and education.
