MULTAN,Nov 3rd: Begum Romana Tanvir Sheikh Senior Vice President of Multan Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MCCI) said that Multan Chamber was playing an effective role for the promotion of handicrafts, Hand knitted garments,embroided dresses, ornamental items to strengthen the social businesses of women in South Punjab. DElivering her speech at the launching ceremony of joint project of the Small Grants Ambassador's Fund Project (SGAFP) MCCI and NRSP aim to support community developed self-help projects .She highlighted that the Program had created impacts at various levels and achieved many milestones since its inception. She shared glimpses of few grant projects across South Punjab to exude the nature and diversity of SGAFP’s work. She informed the participants that SGAFP had covered 18 sectors or thematic areas since its inception. This in built flexibility in the Program design was a huge advantage, which allowed SGAFP to respond to the emerging needs of the communities under any sector. He also highlighted some conspicuous and overarching impacts of SGAFP’s grant projects which included SGAFP’s unique capability to channel USAID funds to the grassroots level and promoting the USG’s soft image among the beneficiary communities, highly visible Program profile in terms of its vast number of beneficiaries – 1.7 million across Pakistan and 370,000 across Punjab, enhanced capacity of the SGAFP’s grantee organization through constant and effective engagement, involvement of communities at all stages of development process and fostering the culture of transparency and accountability through highly evolved monitoring mechanisms. Khurram Javed Butt Secretary General said that 125 women and 15 men would be trained in Union councils of Binda Sandeela and Nawabpur in Handicrafts ,Hand stitched garments, Sewing, embroidery, cutting of dresses according to new techniques and block-printing and other skills and business assets and financial grants would also be provided to them to stand them on their own feet.He said that skilled workers could launch their own business at domestic level to run their families in prosperous way. Farmers Development Organisation (FDO)'s Executive Director Ghulam Mustafa noted that “although grants under this program are called “Small” Grants, their impact is enormous. It creates ripples in the fabric of society, making communities more resilient.” Citing instances of various grant projects, he said that these were just a few of the many ways in which USAID’s Small Grants and Ambassador’s Fund Program was helping People of South Punjab . He pointed out that the support provided through the Program bore testimony to the fact that the U.S. government remained committed to continuing and strengthening its enduring relationship with Pakistan and its people.Khizar Gilani of NRSP said that NRSP's mandate is to alleviate poverty by harnessing people's potential and undertake development activities in Pakistan. It has a presence in 64 Districts of Pakistan through Regional Offices and Field Offices. NRSP is currently working with more than 3.34 million poor households organized into a network of 207,175 Community Organizations. With sustained incremental growth, it is emerging as Pakistan's leading engine for poverty reduction and rural development. Muhammad Waqas Project Manager also informed the participants that the Program had awarded 257 countrywide grants in 112 districts, of which 56 grants had been awarded in Punajb covering 27 districts.Zohra Sajjad Zaidi Board Member of FDO thanked the NRSP team for their wonderful work to complement the development priorities of the Government of Punjab. She pledged the Government of Punjab’s continuous support to USAID’s development projects in Punjab.Khurram Shehzad also spoke.
