EU-Funded Initiative Empowers Youth and Civil Society to Rebuild Post-Covid in Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral
Mr. Jeroen Willems, Head of Cooperation of the European Union Delegation to Pakistan, while speaking at the event, praised the resilience of the communities.
Gilgit: A high-level ceremony at Serena Hotel Gilgit celebrated the successful completion of the European Union-funded project aimed at strengthening youth and civil society resilience in Gilgit Baltistan and Chiltral. The project, titled “Building Resilience of Civil Society and Youth to COVID-19 in Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral, was implemented by the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) in collaboration with the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) and Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy (PCP).
This initiative focused on the social and economic fallouts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic across six districts.
Mr. Jeroen Willems, Head of Cooperation of the European Union Delegation to Pakistan, while speaking at the event, praised the resilience of the communities. He said “The testimonies of the beneficiaries demonstrate remarkable progress: increased community engagement, new income-generating opportunities, improved gender awareness, and greater resilience to future crises”.
Speaking on behalf of the Government of Gilgit-Baltistan, Nazir Ahmed Advocate, Speaker of the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly, lauded the project’s inclusive and grassroots-driven approach. He emphasised the importance of sustaining such partnerships to empower youth, enhance economic recovery, and strengthen civil society institutions at the local level.
As part of the ceremony, EU delegates and other guests visited an exhibition showcasing the work of micro and small enterprises, youth-led initiatives, and civil society organisations that had benefited from project support. The stalls reflected a wide array of interventions, from women-led MSMEs and digital startups to vocational training graduates offering skilled services.
In their concluding remarks, AKRSP’s leadership expressed gratitude to the European Union for its vision and partnership and pledged to continue efforts to build resilient, inclusive, and opportunity-rich communities in Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral.
