Local NGO in Swat seeks help   

  PESHAWAR : A village welfare organisation in Swat Valley’s devastated Matta tehsil has appealed to the donors and philanthropists for donations to revive the body that had halted its activities for three years during militancy. 

Shah Alam Khan, chief of Arony Welfare Organisation (AWO), named after a village in Matta, said in an appeal the organisation was established in 1993 with an aim of developing the area and solving people’s problems. He said the locals formed it on self-help basis. 

He said AWO educated the farmers of the area on modern ways of farming and sent delegations abroad. The organisation, he claimed, also provided seeds, plants, fertilisers, small machines and equipments on concessional prices to boost their produce. It also marketed the apples and other fruits produced in Swat by holding exhibition at a grand hotel of Peshawar. 

Alam Khan claimed they had not received aid from national or foreign donors when situation in the valley was normal. However, he said the militancy reversed all their achievements and rendered them unable to resume their activities. He said they had bankrupted financially. He demanded donations and philanthropists to revive the organisation and resume their welfare activities for the community. 

Source: THE NEWS (May 18, 2010)