Sawan Khaskheli Badin
In a concerted effort to tackle poverty and foster inclusive development, the Government of Sindh has embarked on a ground breaking Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) across five districts of the province. The initiative, valued at 49.5 million Euros, is being spearheaded by the Directorate of Urban, Regional Policy & Strategic Planning (URP&SP), P&DD in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), under the banner of the “Poverty Alleviation & Inclusive Development across Rural Sindh, PAIDAR” program.
Dr. Imtiaz Bhatti, Director General of URP&SP, and Badural Salam, National Program Coordinator of UNIDO, shed light on the ambitious endeavor during a consultative workshop convened under the auspices of Abdul Fattah Hulio, Deputy Commissioner of Badin, at Darbar Hall Badin. The primary objective of the workshop was to engage key stakeholders in discussions aimed at reducing poverty levels in both rural and urban areas of the district. It was emphasized that the implementation of the Rural Growth Center (RGC) at Taluka Talhar in Badin district marks the initial phase of the Poverty Reduction Strategy.
Detailing the scope of the initiative, officials explained that a comprehensive scoping exercise would be conducted to identify potential development schemes encompassing sectors such as health, education, water, sanitation, and road infrastructure. The ultimate aim is to ensure the availability of essential social services to the population residing in the vicinity of the RGC and its surrounding areas.
Furthermore, it was highlighted that this endeavor aligns with the government’s overarching efforts to mitigate the multifaceted impacts of poverty on communities. The consultative workshop witnessed active participation from various governmental departments, local organizations, and key figures including Abbas Ali Dayo, Assistant Commissioner of Badin, Abdul Manan Bhutto, Assistant Commissioner of Talhar.