Speakers at a goat distribution ceremony organised by a Turkey-based development organisation resolved to initiate more initiatives for poverty alleviation in rural areas. The TIKA-funded project on 'goat breeding for reducing poverty and strengthening the role of women in rural areas' was launched here at the Department of Clinical Medicine & Surgery (CMS).
Kenan Yusal, Tika's Co-ordinator, Islamabad, Syed Tahir Hussain, Commissioner, Faisalabad Division, Professor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan, (SI), the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Agriculture Faisalabad addressed recipients of more than 256 betel goats from across the district.
Kenan Yusal said he was hopeful that in five years, the families would be in a strong financial position, adding that his organization would like to enter into the new business of purchasing goats from the recipients. He said that the goat-breeding project would bring the people of both countries closer. Stressing the need for increasing co-operation, he said that Tika also wanted to promote Mango exports to Turkey.
UAF Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan told that his office is vigorously working on making various proposals, including Tika's Extension Centre and Skill Development Centre. He said that they were also planning to distribute cows among rural people in the district. Commissioner, Faisalabad Division, Syed Tahir Hussain appreciated the project nd assured support and assistance for materialising other upcoming such projects in Faisalabad.
General Manager of Pak-Turk Schools Turgut Puyan, who met with the university's vice-chancellor, said that there were certain difficulties in entertaining project proposals from Pakistani institutions in the European Union, but he would like to submit various joint proposals through Turkey that he hoped would be funded. Dr Laeeq Akbar Lodhi Dean Faculty of Veterinary Science, Professor Dr Muhammad Ashfaq Director, Institute of Agricultural and Resource Economics also spoke on the occasion.