MDTF-funded ERKF project: Over 8000 crisis-hit SMEs of erstwhile Fata-KP apply for grants

More than 8,000 applications from the crisis-hit SMEs from the merged districts of erstwhile FATA have submitted applications for Economic Revitalization of KP and FATA (ERKF) project that is funded by the Project Unit of the Multi-Donor Trust Fund (MDTF). These were submitted till the evening of Friday, according to officials of the project, who said that the current applications are invited under the Round-II of the project.
In the round-I, about 400 SMEs of the tribal belt were given grants. In the round-II, an amount of Rs 600 million is likely to be distributed in those SMEs that were either affected by terrorism or natural calamity. However, it is less than the loss inflicted on the SMEs of tribal region by terrorism and natural calamity. The authorities have clarified to the business community of the merged districts that due to limited fund, issuance of grant to all applicants would be impossible.
"Due to higher number of applicants and limited fund, a large number of applicants cannot be given the grant," an official said. Applications were being filed in Peshawar, Bajaur, Mohmand and D.I Khan. Two separate committees will scrutinise the documents where applications rejection due to flaws and lack of verification cannot be ruled out.
Meanwhile, the business community of the merged districts of the former FATA and the applicants are demanding increase in the funding of the project to continue it in future and enable the SMEs of the region to take maximum benefits of it.