Peshawar, 16 September 2026: As the JICA-supported technical cooperation project approaches its conclusion, a final seminar was held in Peshawar to disseminate the project’s achievements and share lessons learned with a wide range of stakeholders, including government officials, development partners, and local representatives. The seminar was attended by Mr. Meena Khan Afridi, Minister for Local Government, Elections and Rural Development, KP Government, highlighting the importance of strengthening local governance and development planning in the merged districts.Over the course of the project, local government capacity was strengthened through training programs for officials and elected representatives.
In addition, Mid-Term Development Plans (MTDPs) were developed for all 19 tehsils of the merged districts through participatory planning approaches. These plans provide a strategic roadmap for local development, and parts of them are already being implemented through interventions supported by UNDP and KP government by itself.During the seminar, participants reaffirmed their commitment to utilizing the MTDPs as a guiding framework for advancing the development of the merged districts. Discussions emphasized that the MTDPs should serve not merely as planning documents, but as practical tools for prioritizing investments, coordinating development efforts, and delivering tangible benefits to local communities.
In the seminar, Mr. YAMANAKA Yoshifumi, Director of Office for Peacebuilding, JICA HQs emphasized that it is essential that participatory planning approaches continue to be institutionalized and that the plans are translated into actual implementation to strengthen trust and confidence between local government and citizens”.
