PR.34 Islamabad: 6th November, 2017

Mr. Ashwani K. Muthoo, Director, International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD), Rome, called on Mr Sartaj Aziz, Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission here on Monday November 06, 2017 and discussed various achievements of IFAD in Pakistan. Mr. Ashwani said IFAD, since its inception in 1978 has provided USD 730 million for 27 projects in different sub-sectors in Pakistan. All these projects are aimed at reducing poverty in rural areas of Pakistan through a participatory approach by involving the communities.

Director, IFAD also informed the Deputy Chairman that currently four additional projects were under implementation. These projects include National Poverty Graduation Programme, Economic Transformation Initiativen,Gilgit- Baltistan, Gawadar-Lasbela Livelihoods Support Project and Southern Punjab Poverty Alleviation project with IFAD’s funding of USD 214.6 million for these projects.

Mr Sartaj Aziz, who himself was associated with IFAD’s creation, said IFAD is one of the most successful UN agencies with a noble mandate to help the rural poor of this world. He also said that IFAD has sponsored and funded more than 1000 projects across the globe and provided soft loans of USD 20 billion since its creation.

Director, Ashwani said that IFAD is celebrating its 40th Anniversary next year and emphasized on the need to enhance Pakistan’s partnership as Pakistan has been playing a significant role in IFAD’s development so far.

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