LOWER DIR: Over 70 development schemes have been completed in seven union councils of Upper Dir district under the recovery and rehabilitation project of Catholic Relief Services (CRS) to benefit the flood-hit communities.

In this regard, National Integrated Development Association (NIDA), Pakistan, partners of CRS in Upper Dir, arranged the concluding ceremony of the project on Tuesday. Administration officials, representatives of village organisations and elders were in attendance.

Assistant commissioner, Sheringal, Mohammad Bilal Naseer was the chief guest.

The project was implemented by NIDA with the financial support of CRS.

NIDA programme director Mohammad Arif informed the participants that the project was launched in November 2022 and completed in October 2023. He said a total of 71 schemes, including construction of three link roads, 22 water supply and sanitation schemes and 46 small irrigation channels in seven union councils of Upper Dir were completed under the project.

He said flood-hit infrastructure was rebuilt and flood mitigation measures were implemented in Kalkot, Thal, Doog Dara and Sheringal.

Meanwhile, Lower Dir administration said 189 ‘illegal Afghans’ living in the district had been repatriated so far.

An official told Dawn that law enforcement agencies and police were inspecting the Afghan refugees’ camps in Mayar, Mian Banda and Chakdara.

He said an exit point had been set up in Chakdara for people being repatriated.

Separately, Al-Khidmat Foundation with the financial support of Heroic Hearts, an NGO, on Tuesday distributed pushcarts for selling fruits and vegetables among 11 selected youth during a function held in Timergara Rest House.

The vendors were also provided with Rs5,000 cash each. Talking to journalists, AKF general secretary Sultan Zeb said the step was taken to encourage jobless youth to make a decent living.

Published in Dawn, November 1st, 2023