Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Smeda) as implementing partner of UNDP-sponsored "Early Flood Recovery & Restoration Flood Affected Communities Programme" distributed Rs 2.1 million grant cheques among flood-hit small enterprises in Union Council, Dhap Shumali, district Dera Ismail Khan.
A grant of Rs 30,000 each distributed among more than 70 small enterprises, whose businesses adversely affected during flashed floods in the area. In this regard, a formal cheque distribution ceremony held in UC Dhap Shumali, district D.I.Khan, wherein Smeda National Project Manager, Pro-Poor Governance for Legal Empowerment for the Poor (Pro-Gole), Shaheen Tahir Sebahi was chief guest.
On the occasion, the provincial co-ordinator, UNDP-programme, Noor Zeba, Co-ordinator Business Support Centre, D.I.Khan, Sheikh Mohammad Noman, Programme Organiser Products, ER project Hafizullah, Regional Head, SPO Shafiqullah Baloch, TMO Mansoor, Mohammad Ashgar, notable of area, and grant beneficiaries were present. Noor Zeba, while addressing on the occasion said that the Smeda with financial support of UNDP had extended grant to recover the floods affected small businesses in the region. She added that the efforts are being made to work on other relevant sectors as well.
The BSC co-ordinator, Sheikh Noman expressed the hope that the UNDP-funded ER project will prove to restoration of flood affected small businesses, saying that Smeda is playing integral role to fully facilitate the victims under the project. He further added that the authority is also working different interventions to support and facilitate for development of SME in the province. He said that the all possible steps would be taken to ease suffering of the flood affected people under the programme, saying that the grant distribution was part of the efforts.