United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) is cooperating with the Azad Kashmir government in various development projects in the state.
This was disclosed during a meeting which was held at the capital of AJK . The Chief Secretary AJK Muhamad Usman Chachar presided over the meeting. The meeting discussed in detail about the ongoing development projects in collaboration with UNICEF.
UNICEF is providing the support to AJK government in the projects of eradicating child labour , poverty alleviation and child protection.
The Secretary Agriculture and Livestock Javed Ayub briefed the UNICEF delegation on the economic indicators, the problems faced by the AJK government and resources of the state. He also pointed out the areas where assistance from UNICEF is required in AJK.
He apprised the meeting that the total population of AJK is 4.45 million, whereas the ratio between rural and urban population is about 83 to 17., whereas the ratio of unemployment is 10.7 percent.
He said that there is one doctor available for 2823 persons in AJK, whereas 11.6 percent of the area is under forests.
The meeting demanded cooperation from UNICEF in the sectors of health , education, agriculture ,local government , environmental changes, social and child protection, good governance, disaster management, livestock and forestry.
On the occasion the Country Director UNICEF Abdullah Fadil said that it is a satisfactory fact that many indicators in AJK are better than the federal government.
He said that UNICEF is supporting the AJK government within its mandate.