A Karachi-based NGO will set up 20 youth friendly centres in AJK for promotion of healthy activities among children.
The Pakistan Volunteers Health and Nutrition Association (Pavhna) has provided funds for the establishment of these centres in three sub-divisions of Muzaffarabad district.
The youth friendly centres provided with material for in- and out-door supports, book study, Internet facility, and declamation contests will be established by in collaboration with a local NGO.
"The basic aim of establishing these centres is to save the children and youths falling under the age of 8 to 25 years from drugs and other unhealthy activities", said the deputy commissioner, Muzaffarabad, and head of technical committee of Pavhna Dr Mehmood-ul-Hassan Raja after inaugurating the Youth Friendly Office at Gojra.
Pavhna Project Director Raja Abid Khan, heads and representatives of local NGOs and volunteers were also present on the occasion.
He said that NGOs were performing a tremendous job in providing basic life facilities to the deprived segment of the society.
Raja asked NGOs managers to get involved the religious element of the society into development process to lessen the opposition to NGOs work.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Nawaz of the agriculture department said that masses should be benefited and strengthened.
The central office-bearers of AJK NGOs Forum Khawaja Nazir and Raja Muhammad Mumtaz also spoke on the occasion, and assured full co-operation to the managers of Youth friendly centres.
The representatives of women NGOs were also present in the ceremony.
The articles, including sewing machine, supports items, books and stationery also distributed among the in-charges of the youth friendly centres.