BATKHELA, April 29: The European Union is committed to resolving civic problems of people in Malakand under its ongoing ‘Peace’ programme.

This was stated by Beread De Groot, a representative of the EU, while addressing a managers’ conference for community activists/intuitions organised by the Sarhad Rural Support Programme (SRSP) at Pirkhel, Malakand protected area.

Representatives of the village organisations, government officials and elders of the area attended the conference.

Mr De Groot said the EU had been launching different projects in collaboration with the SRSP in Swat, Dir, Chitral, Shangla and Malakand where village organisations had been formed. People’s problems were being addressed through these village committees, he said, adding under the EU ‘Peace’ programme 100 union councils of Malakand division had been selected for different projects.

The EU representative said capacity of government line agencies and village organisations had been increased so that they could be able to run smoothly in future. He said under a new project the EU will financially help the SRSP to build strong linkages between masses and government departments in Malakand division. The administration, he said also needed to be strengthened for resolution of civic problems.

Mr Groot said burden on judiciary would also be minimised through making functional the reconciliatory bodies in all parts of Malakand division. These bodies, he said, would be assigned to resolve petty disputes among locals.