ISLAMABAD: The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) has developed a project proposal for Gilgit-Baltistan on agro-industry development programme, targeting fresh and dry fruits, trout fish as well as dairy sector.

The project was developed following the conclusion of a need assessment mission to Gilgit-Baltistan for which UNIDO contributed $50,000 as seed money for developing the project. The anticipated budget will be around $3 million for the first phase to be mobilised by the federal government, international donors and UN funds.

According to UNIDO, the concept for value addition was conceived in close collaboration with the ministry of national food security and research as well as active participation of the provincial agriculture department.

The project team was led by UNIDO representative in Pakistan Esam Alqararah, which undertook field visits to Peshawar and Gilgit-Baltistan for details. The team includes an international food expert from Lebanon and a UNIDO project manager based in Vienna.

The main objective of the mission was to assess the selected value chains relevant to providing assistance in processing, packaging, branding, certification as well as establishing links with national and international markets.

The mission also interacted with farmers and women associations to seek the problems faced by them and to identify the gaps where UNIDO could provide assistance for further strengthening selected value chains.

The mission also held a meeting with Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister and informed him of UNIDO’s assistance with the uplift of poor communities in the area as well as assisting the government to establish a certification system of various perishable commodities like cherry and apricot, enabling these products to meet compliance and compatibility for export to China and minimize post-harvest losses. The Gilgit-Baltistan government is also helping to fund the project from local government resources.

A follow-up meeting reiterated that through this project UNIDO was working on much needed interventions that come under priority areas for the government.

Published in Dawn, May 24th, 2017

Opinion

Editorial

Islamabad march
Updated 27 Nov, 2024

Islamabad march

WITH emotions running high, chaos closes in. As these words were being written, rumours and speculation were all...
Policing the internet
27 Nov, 2024

Policing the internet

IT is chilling to witness how Pakistan — a nation that embraced the freedoms of modern democracy, and the tech ...
Correcting sports priorities
27 Nov, 2024

Correcting sports priorities

IT has been a lingering battle that has cast a shadow over sports in Pakistan: who are the national sports...
Kurram ceasefire
Updated 26 Nov, 2024

Kurram ceasefire

DESPITE efforts by the KP government to bring about a ceasefire in Kurram tribal district, the bloodletting has...
Hollow victory
26 Nov, 2024

Hollow victory

THE conclusion of COP29 in Baku has left developing nations — struggling with the mounting costs of climate...
Infrastructure schemes
26 Nov, 2024

Infrastructure schemes

THE government’s decision to finance priority PSDP schemes on a three-year rolling basis is a significant step...