PESHAWAR - The University of Peshawar, Institute of Urban and Regional Planning and FATA Secretariat Directorate of Monitoring and Evaluation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop linkages for specialised services in Geographic Information System as a tool for planning and monitoring to bring peace and sustainable development in underprivileged area of the country.
The project, which is aimed at developing GIS tools for smart planning and monitoring of the government and donors funded activities, has got underway with the signing ceremony wherein students hailing from FATA would be hired for data collection, map digitalisation and development of a data-base in the first phase.
The MoU which is to remain effective till completion of the project was signed by Vice Chancellor UoP Prof. Dr Muhammad Rasul Jan and Yousaf Rahim, Additional DG Projects of the FATA Secretariat. "The purpose of the initiative was to develop a smart evaluation system for the needs of the people of FATA," said Dr Zulfiqar Ali who is the focal person of the project in his briefing.
He added that the project would be aimed at suggesting ways and means for transparent utilisation of resources through improved services through responsive public institutions.
The modern role of the universities was to serve the community by offering them consultancy services according to the demands of time, said Vice Chancellor UoP Prof. Dr Muhammad Rasul Jan. He added the capacity building of the indigenous people of FATA is important to overcome the prevailing situation in the restive FATA region.
Dr Jan also extended full cooperation of the FATA Governance and Development Institute of the University of Peshawar in collaborating with FATA secretariat for joint researches and projects in the area.
Yousaf Rahim, Additional DG Projects of the FATA Secretariat vowed that the services of the competent professional and institutes within the university would be hired for achieving the joint cause of brining economic prosperity and social well being among the people of FATA.
It is pertinent to mention that the government through FATA Secretariat in collaboration with the Multi Donor Trust Fund (MTDF) and the World Bank has initiated Post Crisis Needs Assessment (PCNA) Implementation Support Unit for Implementation for development of the deprived tribal areas of Pakistan.