Villagers and development experts at a public meeting have expressed that integrated development can be possible by people's participation and consultation, which is reflected in a model village Punj Kooha where in the past nobody could imagine to live there due to stinky and dirty environment.
The Village Friends' Organisation (VFO) organised the public meeting at Punj Kooha few kilometres away from Mian Channu. The developmental work and modification of village has been done in a meagre amount of Rs 3,777,604 to establish about 54 cemented houses at 92 Kanals compared with government funded development work which can complete drains work in this budget.
The bricks and other construction material were approved from Texila laboratory before purchase. The Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) and the Village Friends' Organisation jointly launched the developmental activities while people shared Rs 755,521 in the whole project funds.
The filtered sewerage system, water treatment plant, children park, public park, community centre, street lights, flush latrines and bricks pavement streets are provided in Punj Kooha.
Speaking at the meeting the PPAF official Zafar Pervez Sabri said the federal government has established the PPAF to end poverty through developmental activities. He said the Punj Kooha was the pilot project of PPAF in South Punjab and small loans would be released to the population on easy terms to initiate business activity in the area.
Zafar Sabri said that work in Punj Kooha was a starting point and 30 more projects of this nature were in the pipeline and the development work would be executed in near future. Khanewal district Nazim Sardar Ahmed Yar Haraj who inaugurated the completion of development work in Punj Kooha widely appreciated the completion of development work in Rs 3.7 million on self-help basis, however he underlined need for the safety of whole development.
He also appreciated the PPAF and VFO for contributing in building the village into most modern and well-equipped infrastructure. Speaking on the occasion Mian Channu Tehsil Nazim Pir Shujaat Hassnain Qureshi announced installation of water purification plant in Punj Kooha. He said a three marla housing scheme is being introduced in Mian Channu on the patron of Punj Kooha.
Speakers who spoke on the occasion include VOF president Niyiaz Ahmed Kathia, Mian Channu Tehsil Naib Nazim Pir Ali Abbas Shah, PML-Q MPAs Mushtaq Ahmed Khaga, Qamar Abbas Kathia, Pakistan Planning Commission Deputy Chief Chaudhry Abdul Sattar, Khawaja Zia Siddiqui, Shakoor Mirza and Haji Zahoor Hussein.