PESHAWAR, Feb 21: Honorary Consul General of Japan Nawabzada Fazal Karim Afridi said on Thursday that the Refugee Affected and Hosting Areas (RAHA) Programme was a major step towards the development of Federally Administered Tribal Areas in general and Khyber Agency in particular.

Speaking at a community consultation with CBOs and tribal elders from Jamrud, Landi Kotal and Mullagori regions of Khyber Agency, Mr Afridi said that the Japanese government – which has funded the $12.8 million programme being implemented by the United Nations Development Programme – wanted to extend cooperation for the development of Fata.

According to a UNDP press release, GIZ Fata Development Programme coordinator Stefan Schmid hailed the event as a good opportunity to hear more voices from Fata and learn about the region’s development needs.

Earlier, Fata deputy director (projects) Dawood Afridi hoped that the consultation would achieve its objectives. UNDP communication officer Mustafa Nazir Ahmad gave a detailed overview of the programme and shared its salient objectives.

During the consultation, the participants presented action plans based on challenges faced by their communities in areas of social cohesion, sustainable livelihoods and environment. The three working groups for Jamrud, Landi Kotal and Mullagori also identified areas in which they would like to bring about behavioural change.