Signing ceremony of the Collaboration Certificate between China and the UNDP Pakistan (Photo: Xu Wei/People's Daily)

Islamabad (People's Daily)-China and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Pakistan signed a $4 million agreement on Friday to provide assistance over four months in areas of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Balochistan that have been affected by natural and human-made crises.

The "China South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund for the Recovery Project in FATA and Balochistan" will help 8,100 families returning to the areas affected by insecurity in FATA to rebuild their lives. In Balochistan, about 19,000 schoolchildren will benefit as schools damaged in the 2010–11 floods are refurbished.

Yao Jing, Ambassador of China to Pakistan said, "The successful launch of this project renews our commitment to deliver strong support to the people of Pakistan. In future, China will continue to increase the Grant Assistance to Pakistan, enriching the categories and sectors, expanding aid into areas with pressing demands including FATA and Balochistan."

Muhammad Aslam Chaudhry, Joint Secretary, Economic Affairs Division, said, "We are thankful to the Government of China for this initiative to provide immediate response to meet the needs of communities in FATA and Balochistan. This project would support people in restoration of livelihoods and help to rebuild their lives."

Ignacio Artaza, UNDP Pakistan Country Director, said, "FATA and Balochistan are amongst the country's least developed regions and, in recent years, have been severely affected by disasters. This support from China will help temporarily displaced families get back on their feet as they return home after years of uncertainty, and help ensure that schools in Balochistan meet the necessary conditions to keep young students in school."

The recovery project is supported by the Ministry of Commerce of China and implemented by UNDP. The project aims to provide immediate response to meet the needs of affected individual and communities through the distribution of essential supplies for the restoration of livelihoods.

This initiative builds on UNDP's ongoing support for early recovery and rehabilitation of affected populations in Pakistan and will provide 56,700 people (8,100 families) in Kurram, South Waziristan, North Waziristan, Khyber and Orakzai Agencies with construction kits to rebuild their homes, as well as essential household items.

In Balochistan's Naseerabad, Jafferabad and Sohbatpur districts, which were worst affected by the 2010–11 floods, 375 schools will receive new furniture and education kits.

The project will be implemented in partnership with government stakeholders including the Disaster Management Authority, FATA Secretariat and Temporarily Displaced People Secretariat in FATA, and in Balochistan the Departments of Education and Planning and Development.