Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety, Syed Imran Ahmed Shah Monday said that inclusive and sustainable development in Pakistan requires effective collaboration between the government, civil society, and local communities.
Imran Ahmed Shah calls for stronger partnership with NGOs to tackle poverty
ISLAMABAD, Mar 09 (APP):Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety, Syed Imran Ahmed Shah Monday said that inclusive and sustainable development in Pakistan requires effective collaboration between the government, civil society, and local communities.
He emphasized that local NGOs have a deeper understanding of community-level challenges and play a vital role in translating development initiatives into practical outcomes.
He expressed these views while addressing a ceremony organized by the Trust for Voluntary Organizations (TVO) for the distribution of the first tranche of grant cheques to partner NGOs.
The event was attended by the Secretary of the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety, CEO TVO Ghulam Mohiuddin, members of the TVO Board of Directors, and representatives of various partner NGOs.
During the ceremony, the first tranche of grant cheques was distributed to nine partner NGOs and Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) to initiate their approved development projects.
These initiatives are aimed at addressing key development challenges at the community level across different regions of the country.
Through these projects, special focus will be placed on improving access to clean drinking water in rural and underserved areas, strengthening basic healthcare facilities, enhancing resilience to climate change, promoting modern agricultural practices, creating employment and skill development opportunities, and bringing out-of-school children back into the education system.
The Federal Minister appreciated the role of TVO and noted that since its establishment in 1992, TVO has been supporting locally registered NGOs across Pakistan and assisting them in designing and implementing development projects with active community participation.
He stated that a transparent system ensures that development resources reach the communities that need them the most.
The Federal Minister said that in line with the vision of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, the Government of Pakistan has placed poverty reduction and the protection of vulnerable segments of society among its top priorities.
In this regard, the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety is undertaking various initiatives to strengthen the social protection system, create economic opportunities, and support marginalized communities.
He also highlighted that effective policymaking requires a clear understanding of ground realities.
For this purpose, he has been visiting various universities, hospitals, and welfare institutions to directly observe the challenges faced by the public and to work with relevant institutions in developing practical solutions.
The Federal Minister commended the efforts of all partner NGOs present at the ceremony and emphasized that the success of these projects depends on transparency, accountability, and active participation of communities.
He expressed hope that these initiatives will play a significant role in improving the well-being of communities and promoting sustainable development across the country.
Concluding the ceremony, the Federal Minister congratulated all organizations receiving the grants and reaffirmed that the government will continue to support initiatives that bring meaningful and positive change in the lives of the people.
