Hanif, Otunbayeva talk steps to alleviate poverty

KABUL (Pajhwok): Acting Minister of Economy Qari Din Mohammad Hanif and UN Assistance Mission for Afghanistan (UNAMA) head Roza Otunbayeva have discussed strategies for gradually reducing poverty and unemployment in the country.

Hanif met Daniel Anders, former deputy representative of the UN mission, and coordinator of humanitarian assistance of this agency, Isabelle, the head of OCHA in Kabul and Indrika Ratwatee, new deputy head of UNAMA.

Hanif reminded the UN of implementing humanitarian projects for needy people and increasing its focus on launching work-for-food programmes.

He also called for encouraging and supporting small and medium enterprises, promoting domestic products via agricultural projects and imparting vocational training to help enhance people’s incomes.

The representative of OCHA vowed a development strategy for the coming year, with a particular focus on job-creating projects.

sa/mud