The Under Secretary General of UN Department of Safety and Security, Sir David Vennus, on Wednesday called on NWFP Chief Secretary Sahibzada Riaz Noor at his office in Peshawar.
He remained with the chief secretary for sometime and discussed matters relating to safety and security of foreigners particularly the members of foreign NGOs and humanitarian associations engaged in development activities in the earthquake affected areas of the province.
Talking to the UN envoy, Sahibzada Riaz Noor said that the present law and order situation of the province was the outcome of the war on terror and the situation in Afghanistan. He said that the perception created by the media in the West about Pakistan was not a true reflection of the situation.
The chief secretary said that Pakistan is still a strong and safe country and the government was fully responsive to the challenges. He said that the government was making serious efforts to improve the law and order with a view to attracting foreign investment in the province.
For this purpose, he said: "We are taking the people with a hope that the situation will improve gradually." About the security of foreign NGOs, humanitarian associations working in the earthquake affected areas of the province, the chief secretary told the UN Under Secretary General that co-ordination committees had been constituted at the federal, provincial, district and local levels that meet periodically to review security arrangements for the foreigners.
He said the elected public representatives, political and social figures from civil society had also been involved in the efforts to ensure security of the foreigners. Sahibzada Riaz Noor appreciated the role of international community, NGOs and humanitarian organisations in the rescue and rehabilitation activities in the quake-hit areas of the province and thanked them on behalf of their people of the province.