China, UNDP Pak sign $4mn assistance agreement for Fata, Balochistan

Islamabad [Pakistan]:  China, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Pakistan have signed a USD 4 million agreement to provide assistance over four months to help the people of Fata and Balochistan region in Pakistan.

"The successful launching of the project renews our commitment to deliver strong support to the people of Pakistan. The project will support the people in the restoration of their livelihood and help rebuild their lives," the Dawn quoted Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing, as saying on Friday at the signing ceremony.

The Chinese ambassador further said that China would continue to increase the grant assistance to Pakistan.

China came up with its One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative in 2013.

The project comprises a network of railways, roads and pipelines that would connect Pakistan's port city of Gwadar in the province of Balochistan, with the Chinese city of Kashgar in landlocked Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR).

The human rights activists have, time and again, spoken about and highlighted the growing atrocities of Pakistan on the indigenous people of Balochistan and deteriorating human rights situation as a result of the CPEC.